Celebration Mile Guide 2021

The globe-trotting superstar for Saeed bin Suroor has been successful in four different countries.

His ideal distance looks to be 8 to 10 furlongs and coming out fresh off a long lay off hasn’t been an issue for him in the past.

Not seen for a mammoth 337 days, Benbatl was favourite for last year’s Joel Stakes only to be dethroned by 3 year old superstar Kameko.

A successful spell in Meydan last winter showed he still had plenty of life left in him and he left a lasting impression in his last win on British soil when recording a lethal all the way win under Oisin Murphy in the 2019 renewal of the Joel Stakes.

Younger legs oppose and he’s already starting to weaken at the head of the market, but he’s been ever consistent and if showing the same love of racing he’s going to be hard to beat at the top of the market.

An impressive 2 year old last campaign for Richard Hannon, Chindit racked up a hat trick of wins including listed and Group 2 honours as a juvenile.

He looked to be just as good as a 3 year old when winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal comeback in a tight finish.

He has since struggled to move forward from that and has recorded a trio of 5th place finishes in the 2000 Guineas, the St James’ Palace and most recently in group one company over in France.

Mixing it at the top table has failed to yield any results so dropping back in grade will definitely suit. He’s finding some market support but will need a career best to get the better of an on song Benbatl.

The son of Invincible Spirit was seen once as a juvenile making an impressive debut in October on heavy ground at Newmarket landing a 7f Novice Stakes, seeing off the talented Sevenal and The Attorney.

This season the three year old has been seen three times, making an emphatic seasonal debut when hammering the expensive Noble Dynasty by six lengths.

However, on his two runs after that he has been below par, finishing a mid-field seventh of 14 in the 2000 Guineas when backed to go close and last time out ran no sort of race in the Group Three Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Given almost a month off he returned in July and got back to winning ways in a small runner Conditions Stakes at Haydock, which would have done his confidence the world of good.

He has been given some more time off and looks set to be in top shape for this event and if being able to kick on from his win last time out, he could be a Group One horse in the making.Just needs to stay consistent.

Highly tried as a 2 year old for Marcus Tregoning, Perotto was churned out seven times as a juvenile and managed to record two successes last year.

Narrowly beaten by subsequent Jersey Stakes winner Creative Force on seasonal reappearance, a handicap win here at Goodwood was then followed up by a lethal performance in the Britannia Stakes at Ascot.

A mark of 99 seemed to underestimate him but he’s failed to make the transition up to group company since.

A mid pack finish in the Bunbury cup hinted that he’d been weighted out of handicaps and he’s been easily dispatched in two group races since then.

Likely to be wanting for quality again here.

A dazzling 3 year old season saw this Lope De Vega colt rack up three wins including a gutsy win of the Thoroughbred Stakes over this course and distance.

He seems to have badly regressed since however and he’s not managed to get his head in front for over 2 years.

Last seen only last week when running a good race to be 3rd to Real World at York, he’s maintaining a consistent level of runs but seems to be lacking the cutting edge now he’s older.

Younger and more progressive legs are likely to get the better of him again but his career best came at this course and it could just relight the fire in him.

A 5 year old for King Power Racing and Andrew Balding, this son of Dark Angel had a highly prolific campaign last season but has failed to get anywhere near the same form this year.

His career hit new heights last season when striking up three wins in a row, including last year’s Supreme Stakes.

This season has been disappointing with his best outings being a valiant 4th in the Diamond Jubilee behind Dream Of Dreams at Ascot and a close 3rd to Kinross in the Lennox Stakes.

He was relentlessly staying on for pressure here last month and shaped like going back over a mile would certainly benefit, however a poor outing at Ascot in the Summer Mile would highlight him as one to approach with caution.

Slow ground looks to have brought the best out of him recently and there’s little chance of that here.

Only seen at the Ebor festival last week, Pogo trailed home in 6th of the 9 runners in the City Of York Stakes behind the impressive Space Blues.

Wins have been hard to come by for Pogo having only tasted success in 5 of his 25 career outings.

A seasonal reappearance win looked impressive as a easily scalped Mums Tipple at Leicester in a listed race but he’s since been out of form in high grade contests.

His most recent wins have come in listed or handicap company but with his rating being a lofty 110, he’s too good for handicaps but unlikely to be able to shoulder the penalty for listed contests.

Group races have exposed him for his quality and he’s probably going to find a few too good again at this kind of level.

An 8 year old gelding for Ed Walker, Stormy Antarctic showed that there was plenty of life left in his experienced legs when winning a listed race here at Goodwood back in May.

That was his first success for 2 years, which was a Group 2 win over in Italy.

A short break after his most recent success saw him try his hand back at group company but he was well beaten at Haydock behind Foxes Tales.

Nothing about how he’s ran this season would hint that a drop back to 1 mile would bring about improvement and he’s likely to find the younger horses far too progressive to get seriously involved.

A move back up in grade will leave him exposed.

The current outsider of the field, Lavender’s Blue has been a terrific mare for connections despite only winning three times in her career.

A maiden win as a 3 year old saw her go for the Epsom Oaks but she was horribly outclassed to come home in last.

She left that behind to win the 2019 Atalanta Stakes with plenty in hand but has struggled to win since.

She ran admirably in 1 mile races last season but failed to notch a win all campaign.

A comeback win this season over 1 mile looked like she was firmly back with a bang and she went close again over 9 furlongs at Newmarket behind Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe.

Since beaten in group 1 and group 2 company she looks to have a bit to find over a mile against younger legs and the sharp nature of Goodwood might tax her too much for speed.