Kicking off on Tuesday afternoon, the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival – still referred to as Glorious Goodwood by racing aficionados – crams its highest-quality action into the first three days. The stayers grab the spotlight in the Goodwood Cup on Day 1, while the fillies and mares get their chance to shine in the Nassau Stakes on Day 3. However, the classiest event of them all is held on Day 2, as the 2025 edition of the Sussex Stakes takes centre stage.
Making its debut back in 1841 as a 6f event for the juveniles, the Sussex Stakes now enjoys a significantly greater profile on the international stage. Run under its current conditions since 1960, the one-mile contest sees the best of the best from Britain, Ireland, and beyond do battle for over £1 million in prize money.
The mighty Frankel picked up the first of two wins in the race when mastering Canford Cliffs in the famous “Duel on the Downs” of 2011. This year, the market is headed by an emerging superstar who sports those same Juddmonte silks and has been likened in some quarters to the legendary Sir Henry Cecil colt.
Gold Too Good Again?
The horse in question hails from the yard of two-time Sussex Stakes winner John Gosden (now training in partnership with his son Thady Gosden) and goes by the name Field Of Gold.
Sired by the 2014 winner of this race, Kingman, the three-year-old has emerged as the cream of the three-year-old 1m division. If his St. James’s Palace Stakes romp is any guide, he’s the best by some distance. Goodwood presents more danger of trouble in running than Ascot, which could be an issue given his late-running style. However, he’s 7lb and more clear of the field under these conditions, and the Irish 2000 Guineas winner is the one they all have to beat. Available to back at no bigger than 2/5, the odds compilers aren’t keen to take him on.
Hannon Star the Pick of the Older Runners
Three of the past four editions of this race have fallen to a member of the Classic generation. The odds suggest that trend will continue in 2025, but if there is a horse to upset the favourite, the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old Rosallion may be the most likely.
Never out of the first three in nine career outings, his five wins include the Group 1 trio of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (2023), Irish 2000 Guineas (2024), and St. James’s Palace Stakes (2024). Having also finished second in the 2024 2000 Guineas, his three-year-old form is nearly identical to that of Field Of Gold. He’s zero from two in 2025 but lost out by just a rapidly diminishing nose in the Queen Anne Stakes last time and won’t go down without a fight.
Never Rule Out Ballydoyle
With six Sussex Stakes wins, Aidan O’Brien needs just one more to join Sir Henry Cecil as the most successful trainer in the history of the race. The Ballydoyle supremo sends two to post in pursuit of his seventh victory. On all known form, Serengeti has a mountain to climb and is possibly only in the field to ensure a sound gallop. Henri Matisse, on the other hand, may just have a chance.
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner returned with a Group 3 success at Leopardstown before heading to Longchamp to grab Classic glory in the French 2000 Guineas. Best of the rest behind Field Of Gold at Ascot, he may have finished closer with a clear passage and could at least give the favourite something to think about.
Docklands Overlooked in the Market?
Considering he defeated Rosallion at Ascot, it’s a little surprising to see Docklands trading at around five times the price of the Richard Hannon runner here.
Second last year FIRST this year! 🥇
Docklands wins the Queen Anne Stakes 👑@H_Eustace | #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/OJ9agtea1L
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 17, 2025
He’s won only one of six outings in Group 1 company and was below his best at this meeting in 2023. However, with career form figures of 1-2-2-1 over this trip on quick ground, he may run better than a general price of 22/1 suggests.
US Raider the Best of the Rest
Ralph Beckett’s Qirat and the Ciaron Maher-trained Carl Spackler round out the field. Yet to be tried at any higher than Listed level, and nearer last than first in the Royal Hunt Cup, Qirat’s place in the field is no doubt related to his perfect two from two record at Goodwood. However, this is a huge step up from a pair of 7f handicap events.
US raider Carl Spackler has work to do on his sixth-place effort in the Queen Anne Stakes but is at least a proven top-level performer. A three-time Grade 1 winner in his homeland, he may improve for that first outing on British soil.
Having mastered the three-year-old division, can Field Of Gold conquer his elders? Or will there be a shock? Wednesday, 30 July, at 3:05pm is the time to find out.