John Quinn, who has made giant strides as a trainer in recent years, stands on the threshold of gaining the biggest success of his career at Goodwood tomorrow.
The Settrington handler saddles a powerful pair, Fantasy Believer and Caribbean Coral, in the £100,000 Vodafone Stewards' Cup and looks to have particularly strong claims with the former, who has secured much the better draw.
High numbers have had a pronounced advantage in this six furlongs event in recent years and Fantasy Believer is ideally berthed in stall 24 in the 30-strong cavalry charge.
Success for the six-year-old will be more through design than accident. Quinn has placed him to win two of his last three starts, crucial victories, as the trainer realised his horse required a little extra weight to ensure his place in the field.
Fantasy Believer duly carries a 5lb penalty tomorrow and without it would not have made the line up. Anyone of the opinion that the extra poundage might cost him victory should consider that five of the last eleven winners of this race defied a penalty.
Caribbean Coral, with two valuable wins, at Epsom and Newcastle, to his credit this season, provides Quinn with another fighting chance. But his single-figure draw and hefty burden of 9st 8lb gives him a mountain to climb.
Fantasy Believer, with Darryll Holland in the saddle, looks the one to be high and mighty for Quinn.
Chorist can also hit a high note for jockey Holland in the £200,000 Nassau Stakes.
The William Haggas-trained mare, who made a winning reappearance at Pontefract this season, has since clinched a prestigious Group 1 victory in Ireland. She can add another top notch success to her admirable record in this six runner affair.
The much improved Pongee, winner of her last two starts, promises to take plenty of beating, and is awarded my Nap vote, in the Vodafone Fillies' Stakes.
The highly regarded Fong's Thong has every chance of supplementing his recent Newbury success in the Vodafone Thoroughbred Stakes.
Yorkshire racegoers have a choice of action tomorrow, with afternoon meetings at Thirsk and Doncaster.
African Breeze promises to go well in the Hertell Nursery over five furlongs at Thirsk.
Richard Whitaker's filly, a Redcar winner winner two outings ago, tackled much stronger company on her latest outing and finished fourth. She will be much more at home on handicap terms tomorrow.
In the Ekos Consulting Handicap, Raphael is fancied to oblige for Tim Easterby after finishing second on her latest two outings. The five-year-old goes particularly well on this course, where she is a previous winner.
Johnny Murtagh travels north to Doncaster, after riding all week at Goodwood, and the hint should be taken.
The jockey, who clinched the prestigious Sussex Stakes on Soviet Song on Wednesday, looks set for a successful afternoon. Watch out for him on Kauri Forest (1.35) and Keyaki (2.40).
Masafi, trained by Sir Mark Prescott, won for the second time in 24 hours and for the seventh time in 17 days when making all the running at Carlisle yesterday.
Saturday's tips:
Goodwood
TV races: 2.00 Pongee (Nap), 2.30 Fong's Thong, 3.05 Chorist, 3.35 Fantasy Believer.
Thirsk
2.05 Carnivore, 2.35 African Breeze, 3.10 Raphael, 3.45 Old Bailey, 4.20 Eltihaab, 4.55 Best Port.
Doncaster
1.00 Eqdaam, 1.35 Kauri Forest, 2.10 Lochridge, 2.40 Keyaki, 3.15 Solo Flight, 3.50 Short Chorus.
Newmarket
TV races: 1.45 Bright Sun, 2.20 Mine, 2.50 Sacred Nuts, 3.25 Olivia Rose.
Tomorrow's other meetings are at Hamilton (evening, Flat) and Lingfield (evening, Flat).
Updated: 12:39 Friday, July 30, 2004
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