Club News

The latest news from the Club

Club runners with Glorious potential

28 July 2017

The Club hasn't had many runners recently, but we are building up to a potentially exciting week at Glorious Goodwood, where recent winner TRIBUTE ACT is entered on Tuesday 1 August, and TOP TUG is a possible entry in the 1m6f Summer Handicap on Saturday 5 August. The meeting is one of the country's finest racing spectacles, set in the most astounding setting of the Sussex Downs. The quality of the racing is always superb and Club horses have run well there in the past. Indeed, homebred Group 1 winner Ribbons won the same race Tribute Act is entered in, back in 2013. Ribbons won a fillies' handicap en route to winning a Listed race at Kempton and enjoying her finest hour when winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

Tribute Act has won three of her four races to date, and we have very high hopes for the imposing daughter of Exceed And Excel, who was the final foal out of Ribbons' dam, Sister Act, who the Club sadly lost during foaling. Tribute Act has been taken along very steadily by trainer, James Fanshawe, who has always considered her to be a filly with great potential.

Top Tug has an early entry in the Ebor Handicap at York on 26 August, but as he is so fresh and well at present, trainer Alan King is considering running him on the final day of the meeting. He won his penultimate race at the course at the end of May, and is probably best suited to the Summer Handicap's distance of 1m6f, as he always tends to stay on well over 1m4f, just as he did when fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot. He has been a much improved horse on the level this year, so we all very much look forward to seeing the popular chestnut out again.

Also, MARSHA and JUDICIAL have entries in the Group 2 King George Stakes on Friday 4 August. Both horses have enjoyed wonderful seasons, with Marsha winning the Palace House Stakes in May, before being placed in the King's Stand and the Sapphire Stakes. Judicial won three races on the bounce before finishing fourth in a Listed race at York on 15 July, and could still be on the upgrade. Both horses want quick ground, so we hope the chalk downs drain well next week and one of our two flagship sprinters can take their chance.

Their half-sister, MARSEILLE, finished second in her third consecutive race at Doncaster on Thursday night and is also improving with experience. She won her maiden at Newcastle on Good Friday, and looks set to enjoy an exciting end to the season. Trainer, Julie Camacho, feels she could be a better four-year-old, so is pleased with her progress this season, as she remains backward-looking, but has a great attitude and takes her races well. She is unlike her siblings in that she can cope with cut in the ground, whereas Judicial and Marsha both prefer really fast ground to be at their best.

We hope for an exciting week at Goodwood and for all the horses to come back safe and sound.