By Sean Cronin
The elite-level contests are done, track records have tumbled and Goodwood's five-day bonanza concludes with the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. taking centre stage at the Sussex venue on Saturday.
The £300,000 14-furlong distaffers' test has fallen to favourites in six of the last nine editions and this year's market is headed by Sunderland Holding's G2 Lancashire Oaks runner-up Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Coolmore and Westerberg's G1 Irish Oaks fourth Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The former's stamina is not in question, according to William Haggas, with the Somerville Lodge trainer bidding to double his win tally after Baaeed's G1 Sussex S. success earlier in the week. “Sea La Rosa is very well and we have obviously had this race in mind since Haydock,” Haggas said. “She ran a very good race there on ground which we did not think suited her. She won over a mile and five [furlongs] at Lingfield and we think she'd get the trip without any problem, so we think she has got a chance.”
Irish To Buck The Trends?
Aidan O'Brien is in unfamiliar territory and yet to register a win, from seven runners, in the contest and is represented by the progressive Emily Dickinson, who was narrowly denied by Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Leopardstown's G3 Stanerra S. earlier in the month before missing out on her Classic placing by a half-length last time. She will attempt to buck a trend which has seen just five sophomore triumphs and one Irish victory in 19 renewals.
Accompanying her on the trip from Ireland is Newtown Anner Stud's Jessica Harrington trainee Forbearance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has twice chased home Rosscarbery and finished behind Emily Dickinson in the Stanerra when last seen. The 5-year-old, set to be partnered by Hollie Doyle for a second time, accounted for Sea La Rosa when the duo met in last term's G3 Princess Royal S. at Newmarket and the rider will be hoping to outpoint husband Tom Marquand for household bragging rights.
“Forbearance gave me a memorable afternoon at York's Ebor Festival last year when she won the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Galtres S. and I'm hoping she can rediscover her best form and outrun a big price,” said Doyle. “She beat Sea La Rosa by more than four lengths at Newmarket, but William Haggas's filly has improved considerably since then.”
With five millimetres of overnight watering scheduled, Harrington nonetheless expects Forbearance to relish underfoot conditions and added, “She ran a much better race the last time and has come into herself now. She did not come into herself last year until August and she seems to be in good form. She will love the ground and the quicker the better. Hopefully she will put her best foot forward.”
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