COUNTDOWN TO GLORIOUS GOODWOOD DAY ONE 27 JULY 2010

FAHEY’S DARLING WALTZING TO VEUVE CLICQUOT VINTAGE STAKES



RIP AND CANFORD HEAD EIGHT IN SUSSEX STAKES



BUCKLEY ON TARGET TO PRODUCE “PERFECT” GROUND AT GOODWOOD



Waltz Darling is heading to Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday, July 28, for the biggest test of his embryonic career in the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (2.45pm) over seven furlongs for two-year-olds.



The prestigious contest has attracted seven declared runners with the Iffraaj colt’s rivals including the Richard Hannon-trained King Torus, successful in the Group Two Superlative Stakes over the same trip at Newmarket on July 9.



Waltz Darling has a perfect record of two wins from two starts but, although well-regarded, trainer Richard Fahey is under no illusions about the task facing his charge, whose successes to date have come in a six-furlong Ripon maiden on June 2 and a Newcastle novice event over the same distance on June 24.



Fahey revealed today: “Waltz Darling has done everything we have asked of him and deserves to take his place. It is a big step so we will find out if he is good enough. He is a huge horse and was quite backward mentally, but he is fine now and we are going to step him up in class because if you don’t have a go, then you don’t know.



“Seamus Buckley (clerk of the course) is talking about good ground up the straight. He is a man of his word, so hopefully that is what happens. I don’t think the ground will bother him it is just whether he is good enough.”



The high-class field also includes the unbeaten Brian Meehan-trained Crown Prosecutor, whose second of two career starts brought victory in a Salisbury conditions race on June 27.



Mark Johnston is set to run Stentorian, runner-up to subsequent Group Three winner Zoffany in a Listed race at Leopardstown on July 1, while Hannon could also be represented by impressive Lingfield maiden winner Major Art.



Chilworth Lad from the Mick Channon stable was two lengths fourth to Formosina in the Group Two Railway Stakes at the Curragh last month, while the Roger Teal-trained Surrey Star won an Epsom maiden over the distance on July 15.



Wednesday’s excellent seven-race card also features the Group One Sussex Stakes (3.25pm) over a mile, which has attracted eight crack milers at today’s final declaration stage.

Last year’s brilliant victor Rip Van Winkle, who will be ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, is one of three from the Aidan O’Brien stable alongside Group One Dewhurst Stakes winner Beethoven and Encompassing.



Leading the three-year-old assault on the championship contest is the Richard Hannon-trained Canford Cliffs, the exceptional winner of both the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot’s Group One St James’s Palace Stakes.



Premio Loco, trained by Chris Wall, was supplemented into the race after winning the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot on July 10, while the other runners are course specialist Mac Love, Beacon Lodge and Dream Eater.



The five-day festival that is Glorious Goodwood commences tomorrow, Tuesday, July 27, when the feature race is the £155,000 Group Two Betfair Cup over seven furlongs.



An outstanding field of 12 is poised to go to post, including the Henry Cecil-trained Group One winner Lord Shanakill, the high-class Main Aim from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, exciting French raider Dalghar, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and last year’s winner Finjaan.





Tuesday’s wonderful seven-race card also features the £70,000 Group Three Betfair Gordon Stakes (2.45pm) and the £60,000 Group Three Betfair Molecomb Stakes (4pm).



LATEST GOING AHEAD OF GLORIOUS GOODWOOD



Goodwood is renowned for its wonderful racing surface and that is in large part due to clerk of the course Seamus Buckley and his team of experienced ground staff who work hard to produce fantastic racing conditions.



Buckley is delighted with the state of the ground ahead of Glorious Goodwood and is looking forward to an excellent week of sport on the Downs.



He revealed today: “There is a great covering of grass and I am very pleased with the condition of the course. I am looking forward to starting on what I would call perfect Flat racing ground.



“The going on the straight course is good, while the round course is good to firm, good in places. The course has been watered and we will finish that watering programme later this afternoon, after which we will take the going stick reading - that reading will be available tomorrow (Tuesday).”



LATEST GOING:

STRAIGHT COURSE - GOOD

ROUND COURSE - GOOD TO FIRM/GOOD IN PLACES



For more information, please contact Rod Fabricius, Managing Director at Goodwood Racecourse, on 01234 755 022, Seamus Buckley on 07774 100223, Bradley Eccleshare, Marketing & PR Manager, on 01243 755024, or Rachel Suter, Racecourse Marketing and PR Executive, at rachel.suter@goodwood.com



END