Bow Echo, Gstaad Meet Again in Sussex Stakes

The big clash between Bow Echo (IRE), Gstaad (GB), and Opera Ballo (IRE) is on after the three horses featured among a declared field of 12 for the July 29 Sussex Stakes (G1) over a mile during the Glorious Goodwood meet at Goodwood Racecourse. Bow Echo and Gstaad have met twice already this season, with the former winning both meetings in the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) and St James's Palace Stakes (G1), although Aidan O'Brien's Gstaad narrowed the gap between the pair to just a short head at Ascot Racecourse last time. The Ryan Moore-ridden Gstaad will be joined by stablemates Puerto Rico (IRE) and Dorset (IRE) in the £1.5 million contest. Puerto Rico will be reunited with Christophe Soumillon, whose ban for riding to benefit Gstaad in the St James's Palace Stakes was reduced on appeal earlier this month, while Wayne Lordan picks up the ride on Dorset. Charlie Appleby and William Buick are represented by Opera Ballo, who won the Jebel Hatta (G1T) in Dubai earlier this year before making all in the Sandown Mile Stakes (G2) at Sandown Park in April. He was last seen finishing a three-quarter-length third in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot behind 50-1 shot Ten Bob Tony (IRE), who also features in the Sussex lineup. Qirat (GB), an incredible 150-1 winner of last year's Sussex Stakes, has been declared to defend his crown for trainer Ralph Beckett. He was also declared for the Lennox Stakes (G2) July 28 as he looks to maintain an unbeaten Goodwood record, with Lake Forest (GB) in both races as well. Lake Forest held off a hard-charging Rogue Diplomat (IRE) by a neck to win the Lennox Tuesday, with Qirat 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Their respective teams have revealed plans to attempt an audacious Lennox-Sussex double, with Sean Graham, racing manager for Lake Forest's owners Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, saying July 27: "If tomorrow (Lennox Stakes) goes well, we're going to run him in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday as well. If he runs a stinker in the Lennox he obviously won't run, but if he runs to form we're going to do something leftfield and run him in the Sussex. "He thrives on his racing and the key to getting the best out of him against top-class opposition is quick ground." Elsewhere, Never So Brave (IRE) and Docklands (GB) bring group 1-winning form to the table courtesy of their wins in last year's City of York Stakes (G1) and Queen Anne, while Seagulls Eleven (IRE), winner of the Thoroughbred Stakes (G3) over the Sussex course and distance last year, represents Hugo Palmer and Oisin Murphy. The field is rounded off by Zavateri (IRE), who had Gstaad directly behind when winning at the top level in last season's National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh. Owned by Mick and Janice Mariscotti, Zavateri returned to action this season with a promising second in the Greenham Stakes (G3) at Newbury in April, but he was then forced to miss the English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) after suffering what trainer Eve Johnson Houghton described as a "minor setback." He had the option of running in the Lennox, but after impressing in his latest piece of work at Woodway Stables in Oxfordshire, the son of Without Parole (GB) will return to action at the highest level. "He'd worked the week before and really needed it and the entry in the Lennox was just in case I didn't think he was quite ready to go for the Sussex, but he worked really well on Thursday and I couldn't be happier with him," said Johnson Houghton. "He's ready, in great form and we're all guns blazing for the Sussex." Bow Echo is the warm favorite for Wednesday's group 1 at 6-5 with Paddy Power. The same firm go 11-4 Gstaad and 7-2 Opera Ballo. Zavateri is a 20-1 chance, although Johnson Houghton is unfazed by those odds. "May the best horse win," said the trainer. "It's a horse race and we're all there to have a go. That's the whole point of racing and we have every right to be there. I'm not saying we're going to win, but we'll be in the thick of the action and that's what it's all about." Johnson Houghton added: "Zavateri looks a million dollars and I honestly couldn't be happier with him and I can't wait. I'll feel sick on the morning of the race, but at the moment I can't wait." Ed Walker is hoping to field shock Queen Anne Stakes winner Ten Bob Tony in the same race, but the Lambourn trainer admitted that the prospect of running on quick ground on an undulating track is making him "slightly nervous." "Unless we look at the track on Tuesday and think it's a definite no, he'll go to Goodwood on Wednesday and we'll have a look at the course on the day," Walker said. "Ed Arkell does a great job with the ground at Goodwood and the horse's owner, Simon Sadler, is very keen to run. If it's safe for him we'll have a go at the Sussex, but I'm slightly nervous about it." As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, the winner of the Sussex will earn an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.