The Vintage Stakes, in theory, represents a perfect mid-year opportunity for two-year-olds to test their mettle over a longer trip and begin to establish themselves as contenders for the bigger end-of-season events, potentially even eyeing a Classic tilt next year.
In reality, however, the race has fallen short of expectations in recent years. You have to go back to 2019, when Pinatubo triumphed, to find a subsequent domestic Group 1 winner. Though Angel Bleu and Mysterious Night did manage to achieve success at that level on the international stage.
This year's early betting, with the field priced at 11/4, indicates a wide-open race, making it difficult to pick a clear favourite with any certainty.
Electrolyte is the form pick, having received a Racing Post Rating of 100 for finishing second in the Coventry Stakes. This is the highest rating on offer in the Vintage, but still considerably lower than what is typically required to win the race.
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<img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/prod-media-racingpost/prod/images/169_1008/6b17257d1fc5-12050574.jpg" alt="Electrolyte (left) takes his chance in the race for Archie Watson" width="600" height="350" style="margin: 10px 0; border: 1px solid #ccc;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.8em;">Electrolyte (left) takes his chance in the race for Archie Watson. Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)</div>
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However, the Coventry Stakes appeared relatively weak at the time, and its quality has since been called into question. Electrolyte himself was disappointing in the July Stakes, finishing fifth of six, two places behind the re-opposing Aomori City.
The step up to seven furlongs should suit both these horses, as well as An Outlaw's Grace, who held on well in the Prix Robert Papin last time out. However, the horse with the most potential is undoubtedly The Parthenon.
While seven furlongs on a track like Goodwood might prove a stern test for a horse bred as he is - out of the 2011 Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders - The Parthenon is clearly highly regarded by his connections.
Pitched straight into a Group 3 on debut, The Parthenon opened his account despite showing some inexperience in a Gowran maiden last month. The race itself might not have been particularly strong, but there's a clear sense that The Parthenon can improve significantly upon that performance.
Race analysis by Matt Gardner:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw14qBUGFOE[/embed]
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An Outlaw's Grace has a 'fighting chance'
Middleham Park's Tim Palin has reported An Outlaw's Grace to be in top form, and believes he has a strong chance of finishing in the money in this fiercely competitive Group 2 contest.
The juvenile son of Dandy Man made a winning debut at Salisbury last month before stepping up to Group 2 company, where he finished fourth of seven in the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.
Trained by Richard Hannon, who won this race 12 months ago with Haatem, An Outlaw's Grace is a general 5/1 shot for the eight-runner contest.
Palin said: "He's in great shape and looks magnificent. It's all systems go and the drying ground will suit him, as will the seven-furlong trip, and his draw in stall three shouldn't present any problems.
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<img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/prod-media-racingpost/prod/images/169_1008/ecf0c7d9d24c-richard-hannon.jpg" alt="Richard Hannon: won this race last year" width="600" height="350" style="margin: 10px 0; border: 1px solid #ccc;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.8em;">Richard Hannon: won this race last year. Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)</div>
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"We're led to believe the form of the Papin is pretty strong and we go in there with a fighting chance.
"When you think you have a nice horse, it's almost a relief to win on his debut. We immediately stepped up to Group 2 company, but we probably think the six furlongs against sprinters found him out. He'll have learned plenty."
He added: "We're convinced, based on pedigree and racing style, the step up in trip will suit. They're all lightly raced potential improvers, so it's all to play for."
What they say:
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of The Parthenon: "He's a very nice colt who ran a lovely race the first day. He probably made a bit harder work of winning at Gowran than we thought he would, but he was still a bit green and he's learning all the time. We feel he has come forward nicely from that."
Charlie Appleby, trainer of Aomori City: "He produced a decent performance in the July Stakes, when it looked as though stepping up to seven would suit. He brings a decent level of ability into the race and I think the track will be a positive as well. We are hoping he can find more improvement over this distance."
Clive Cox, trainer of Arabian Sun: "I was really pleased with his success at Salisbury last time and it's clearly a big step up in class, but we're happy to take that step. I'm quite relaxed about the ground and I'm very happy because he's in excellent form."
Karl Burke, trainer of Tiger Mask: "We're happy with him and he's a very progressive horse. I'd been toying with running him in the nursery at the meeting, but it's likely to be a full field and we feel his maiden form looks as good as the others he's taking on. We're going to give it a go to see where we stand, but he's a very nice horse."
Hugo Palmer, trainer of Wolf Of Badenoch: "I'm very happy with him. It's been a while since he ran, but I'm hoping he'll run a good race. I think it'll be good ground tomorrow and he won on basically good ground last time."
Reporting by Liam Headd
Read the rest of our Tuesday previews:
1.50 Goodwood: Can Enfjaar continue on an upward curve for Roger Varian in a wide-open Goodwood curtain-raiser?
3.00 Goodwood: 'The July Cup will have put him spot on' - can Kinross land his third Lennox in four years?
3.35 Goodwood: 'We couldn't be any happier with him' - Aidan O'Brien's star stayer Kyprios bids to regain the Goodwood Cup
4.50 Galway: 'She's way overpriced' - which trainer thinks the market is completely wrong in the Galway opener?
7.10 Galway: 'He's a tough, hardy horse who we think is in off a nice mark' - analysis and quotes for the mile handicap
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