Opportunity knocks for Haggas-trained colt at Goodwood

South Wales Guardian

22-05-2025

A 475,000 guineas son of Frankel out of dual Group One winner Izzi Top, the William Haggas-trained colt opened his account on his reappearance at Haydock and steps up in class for a race won by Troy in 1979 before his Derby success, when it was known as the Predominate Stakes.
'The plan is to go to Goodwood and find out whether he wants to put his hand up for Epsom or not,' said Richard Brown of Wathnan Racing, who own the three-year-old and have Dante runner-up Damysus prominent in the ante-post Derby market.
'This is going to tell us everything we need to know. I think we have got a nice horse on our hands, whether he is a Derby horse who knows, he will tell us on Saturday.
'It will be fascinating to watch it. Ralph Beckett has a horse in there (Amiloc) that I rate very highly and this will tell us everything we need to know about where we are going to go next.
'He's with the right man, William will know where to go.'
As well as the unbeaten Amiloc, Beckett also runs Sir Dinadan, fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial, with Paul and Oliver Cole's Seaplane, fourth in the Futurity Trophy to Hotazhell, in action following a wind operation.
Oliver Cole said: 'Seaplane is in great form and has been working very well. He shows plenty of speed, so the step up in trip is a bit of an unknown.
'However, his pedigree gives encouragement, being by Golden Horn and a half-brother to Sumo Sam, who won over a mile and six furlongs at Goodwood. The ground is also an unknown, but he's a very sound horse.'
Gary and Josh Moore's Too Soon was fourth in the Zetland Stakes, while John and Thady Gosden's Tycoon looks another promising type.
John Gosden said of Tycoon: 'It's obviously a jump in class for him, but we want to run him over this trip in a Listed race and the Cocked Hat is a race we've had a lot of success in.'
The Gosdens also run two in the BetGoodwin Height Of Fashion Stakes, both owned by Anthony Oppenheimer.
Robert Havlin rides Queen Of Thieves, a sister to Champion Stakes winner Cracksman, while Luke Catton keeps the ride on Star Of Light, by Frankel out of the Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher.
'Both fillies are very much in pursuit of black type – it's the last of the recognised Oaks and Ribblesdale trials and like a lot of fillies in the race, they're looking to get some black type and finish in the first three