DESERT TO LEAVE RIVALS FOR DUST

16:10 Goodwood

Although I fear the following sentence may have a way of potentially biting me on the backside I cannot for the life of me see the current market principle King Of Stars finishing with their head in front. Of course Mick Appleby and James Doyle combine to make a fearsome trainer and jockey combination but although the grey is a youngster at the age of 4 and seems to be on the up curve he’s only ever won on turf once. His sole turf victory came in a Class 4 race at Bath and this looks by far a tougher test and although I’m not one for laying horses I’m more than happy to go against him.

Former course and distance winners El Astronaute and Only Spoofing shouldn’t be far away however both seem to be in the grips of the handicapper and their weight may be too much to see them finish with their heads in front. I couldn’t discount them from grabbing a place however.

Embour is on a decent mark but may be out of their depth at this level and Blue De Vega needs to have shown more in recent times to suggest they’re anything like their best.

Rewaayat seems the biggest threat with a solid 4th in last years Stewards Cup consolation race at this meeting 12 months ago. Hailing from a top class yard a drop down to five furlongs looks a decent move and it’d be no surprise to see Charlie Hills runner finish in the placings.

I’ve already mentioned a handful of course and distance winners but the one that gets my vote has shown very little in their last 4 starts with only one of them resulting in a finish inside the first half of the field. That being said however Desert Safari has a 50% strike rate here at Goodwood and now resides on their last winning mark. He’ll handle the soft ground, has produced great performances in large runner fields and in what looks a weak renewal could claim the victory at a big price, for connections who are known to do well at this meeting.

DESERT SAFARI (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock