NEWS
Ghanaati to face Rip Van Winkle in Sussex
Posted: Monday, July 27, 2009 5:36 PM
by Mike Curry
Stanjames.com One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) winner Ghanaati will put her three race winning streak on the line in her toughest test to date in the BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) on Wednesday at Goodwood.
The three-year-old Giant’s Causeway filly will face males and older horses for the first time in her career in the one-mile Sussex Stakes, which also drew Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1) runner-up Rip Van Winkle, Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-G1) winner Paco Boy, and Etihad Airways Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1) winner Lord Shanakill.
Ghanaati opened her three-year-old season with a 1 1/2-length win in the One Thousand Guineas on May 3 at Newmarket for trainer Barry Hills and owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. She reinforced her status as a brilliant miler with a two-length triumph in the Coronation Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 19 at Royal Ascot.
Ghanaati boasts a pedigree that oozes class. She is one of five winners out of the multiple stakes-winning Mr. Prospector mare Sarayir, a half sister to dual classic winner and sire Nashwan. Sarayir also is a half sister to multiple Group 1 winner and sire Nayef and Group 2 winner and sire Unfuwain as well as two other stakes winners. Champion Lahudood also is a notable member of the family, which features 11 group or graded stakes winners within the first two generations.
Three-year-old Rip Van Winkle held his own in his first start against older horses, finishing second by a length to dual classic winner Sea The Stars in the Coral Eclipse. The Galileo (Ire) colt from the barn of Aidan O’Brien also finished fourth behind Sea The Stars in both the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-G1).
Paco Boy has won two of five starts this season with both of his victories coming at a mile: the Queen Anne Stakes on June 16 at Royal Ascot and the Sandown Bet365 Mile (Eng-G2) on April 25 at Sandown.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1)
July 29, $428,069, 3yo&up, 1mT, Goodwood
The field, in post position order, with weight, (sire), jockey, and trainer:
1. Mia’s Boy, 133, (Pivotal), Ryan Moore, Chris Dwyer;
2. Rip Van Winkle, 125, (Galileo [Ire]), Johnny Murtagh, Aidan O’Brien;
3. Beacon Lodge, 133, (Clodovil), C. G. Cox, Adam Kirby;
4. Malibu Bay, 125, (El Prado [Ire]), Sean Levey, Aidan O’Brien;
5. Ghanaati, 122, (Giant’s Causeway), Richard Hills, Barry Hills;
6. Lord Shanakill, 125, (Speightstown), Jim Crowley, Karl Burke;
7. Paco Boy, 133, (Desert Style), Richard Hughes, Richard Hannon;
8. Forgotten Voice, 133, (Danehill Dancer), Frankie Dettori, Jeremy Noseda; and
9. Lahaleeb, 122, (Redback), Darryll Holland, Mick Channon
