Dubai Mark Johnston’s highly regarded Fireglow will bid to lay down her big race credentials when she runs in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes on Celebration Mile day at Goodwood racecourse today (Saturday).
A Darley-bred daughter of Teofilo, she faces eight rivals headed by the Richard Hannon-trained Belvoir Bay and Mick Channon’s hat-trick seeking Epsom Icon.
Fireglow, who is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, holds several big-race entries among them the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) at the Curragh, the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket on September 26, Newmarket’s Dubai Fillies’ Mile (G1) on October 9 and the Racing Post Trophy (G1) at Doncaster on October 24.
Belvoir Bay was a respectable sixth on her last start and steps up to seven for the first time.
Channon, a former England footballer, has won two of the last three runnings of this race with Malabar and Ollie Olga and looks to have genuine claims of maintaining his dominance with Epsom Icon who has won her last two starts.
The feature race on the card is the Group 2 Celebration Mile which has attracted just six runners.
Clive Cox’s Kodi Bear, last year’s Dewhurst Stakes runner-up and one-time Guineas hopeful, looks the one to beat on the strength of his impressive Sovereign Stakes success at Salisbury a fortnight ago.
“He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard. I’m delighted he’s now confirming the promise we always hoped and believed we should be seeing,” the trainer told At The Races.
“He came out of his last race fine. Clearly he’s very versatile on ground as well which is an important factor this week.
“The QEII was on our minds very much before the Salisbury run and that confirms it wasn’t a foolish plan to be aiming at. We’ve got him entered everywhere but this race feels a very sensible step to take and I’m delighted he’s in great form.”
Meanwhile, Windsor hosts the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes over a mile and a quarter.
Emirati handler Saeed Bin Surour saddles the well-bred Racing History who is a brother to dual Group 1 winner Farhh.
The three-year-old Pivotal colt is unbeaten in two starts this year.
Commenting on his chances Bin Suroor told the Godolphin website: “I like Racing History. Any rain will help him as he likes good to soft ground.
“He has been working well and heads to Windsor in good form.”
William Buick takes the ride on the handsome colt who faces nine opponents include three-time Irish Group 3 scorer Fascinating Rock, Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes winner Cannock Chase and dual US Grade 2 victor Grandeur.
Godolphin has won the Winter Hill Stakes seven times - Annus Mirabilis (1996, 1997 & 1998), Naheef (2002), Ancient World (2004), Campanologist (2009), and Prince Siegfried (2011).
