Past winners among 128 in frame for Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood

Hoof It, trained by Mick Easterby in Yorkshire, carried a record 10st to an impressive victory in the 2011 renewal of the heritage handicap, while the Jim Goldie-trained Hawkeyethenoo, based in Scotland, defied 9st 9lb to gain a thrilling last-gasp success in 2012.

Both horses have subsequently shown themselves to be among Europe’s premier sprinters, with Hoof It finishing a close third in the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park and Hawkeyethenoo filling the runner-up spot in the Group Two QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot in October.

A host of talented sprint handicappers will be trying to add their names to the illustrious Stewards’ Cup roll of honour, including York Glory, Shropshire, Dinkum Diamond and Khubala, who were the first four home in the six-furlong Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot on June 22.

Duke Of Firenze and Smoothtalkinrascal, who fought out the finish in the five-furlong “Dash” Heritage Handicap at Epsom Downs on Derby Day, could re-oppose, while Burn The Boats and Joe Eile, first and third respectively in a valuable six-furlong handicap at the Curragh on June 29, may represent Irish handler Ger Lyons.

Tropics narrowly missed the cut for the Wokingham Handicap, but the lightly-raced five-year-old continued his rapid rise through the sprinting ranks for trainer Dean Ivory with a length success over Rex Imperator in a six-furlong handicap at Windsor on June 29.

Ivory revealed: “The Stewards’ Cup is on the agenda for Tropics. We wouldn’t want the ground too fast but the strong pace should suit him, especially considering the way he has been running lately.

“He’s up to a mark of 100 now but we don’t know how good he is yet. He was still a little bit raw when he won on Saturday and I think that he can keep improving.

“Tropics was cast-off from Darley and we only got him as a four-year-old but he is a lovely, laid-back horse.

“He missed out on the Wokingham but I think that he should really have beaten Khubala at Windsor at the start of June (when a neck adrift) and on that form, together with his win last week, he would have been in the frame at Royal Ascot.”

Hertfordshire-based Ivory may also be represented at Glorious Goodwood by Sirius Prospect, who holds entries in the Stewards’ Cup and the Betfred Mile on Friday, August 2.

The five-year-old beat subsequent Group One Darley July Cup victor Mayson in a Doncaster Listed contest in November, 2011, and performed admirably in several top sprints last term, including when a close seventh to Black Caviar in the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes and finishing third in the Group Two QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes.

Ivory continued: “Sirius Prospect does a lot better as the season progresses and wants a bit of cut in the ground. I think that he really wants seven furlongs or an easy mile these days, which is why we have given him an entry in the Betfred Mile as well.

“He has done very well for us over six furlongs but he was placed over a mile in a Listed contest at Kempton in November and he is bred to get a mile.

“He has always dropped himself out in his races and unleashed a turn of foot but it’s hard work to keep racing like that.

“He’s a horse that won’t exert himself unless everything feels right. I would run him in the Stewards’ Cup if the ground was good to soft or soft, but he may run in the Betfred Mile if it is any faster.”

Saturday’s card at Glorious Goodwood commences with the £35,000 Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, which offers compensation for those horses who are balloted out of the feature race, which is allowed a maximum field of 28.

Ivory is hoping to be represented in the six-furlong handicap by the progressive five-year-old mare Links Drive Lady, who was a comfortable course and distance winner in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Fillies’ Handicap on May 31.

The trainer added: “We are aiming Links Drive Lady at the Stewards’ Sprint. I think that she is a nice, improving filly but she is only small and I think it would be a bit harsh to take on the calibre of the top sprinters.

“The Ayr Gold Cup will be her main objective after Goodwood and I am sure that she will get some black type at some point. Ideally, she wants some cut in the ground but she won nicely at Goodwood on good ground last time.

“Kieren Fallon thinks a lot of her, as we do, and she is going the right way.”

The weights for the Stewards’ Cup will be announced on Wednesday, July 10.

THE STEWARDS’ CUP

Class 2, Heritage Handicap, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.50pm, Goodwood, Saturday, August 3, 2013. Six furlongs. For three-year-olds and upwards. Weights: highest weight not less than 9st 10lb; minimum weight 8st. Penalties, after July 6, a winner 6lb.Entries closed, July 2, entries revealed, July 3 (128 entries), weights revealed July 10, scratchings deadline noon, July 16, five-day confirmation stage Monday, July 29. Final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, August 1. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, July 1. May not include some overseas form.

Entries

ABOVE STANDARD (IRE) 5 A Saha Mick Easterby

AJJAADD (USA) 7 Katy & Lol Pratt Ted Powell

ALNOOMAAS (IRE) 4 Mark Benton Luke Dace

AMADEUS WOLFE TONE (IRE) 4 B T McDonald Jamie Osborne

ANCIENT CROSS 9 Pete Bown,Backup Technology & Steve Hull Mick Easterby

APOLLO D’NEGRO (IRE) 5 Gwyn Powell and Peter Ridgers Clive Cox

ARCTIC FEELING (IRE) 5 Percy / Green Racing 2 Richard Fahey

AVON BREEZE 4 Grange Park Racing II & Partner Richard Whitaker

BABY STRANGE 9 Market Avenue Racing Club Ltd Derek Shaw

BACCARAT (IRE) 4 Sir Robert Ogden Richard Fahey

BAJAN TRYST (USA) 7 Margaret Forsyth & Rebecca Hillen Kevin Ryan

BARNET FAIR 5 Donald Wheatley Richard Guest

BARRACUDA BOY (IRE) 3 Laurence Bellman Tom Dascombe

BEAR BEHIND (IRE) 4 Bellman Black Marantelli Owen Tom Dascombe

BEST TRIP (IRE) 6 Koo’s Racing Club Brian Ellison

BLAINE 3 Matt & Lauren Morgan Kevin Ryan

BONNIE CHARLIE 7 Gaga Syndicate David Nicholls

BURN THE BOATS (IRE) 4 D Spratt Ger Lyons IRE

BURNHOPE 4 Ontoawinner 4 Scott Dixon

BURNING BLAZE 3 Qatar Racing Limited Kevin Ryan

BURWAAZ 4 Hamdan Al Maktoum Ed Dunlop

CHARLOTTE ROSINA 4 Homecroft Wealth Racing Roger Teal

CHOOSEDAY (IRE) 4 Mrs S J Barker Kevin Ryan

CONFESSIONAL 6 Terry & Margaret Holdcroft Tim Easterby

DECENT FELLA (IRE) 7 Rakebackmypoker.com Violet Jordan

DICK BOS 4 Middleham Park Racing III & Partners David O’Meara

DINKUM DIAMOND (IRE) 5 Eight Star Syndicate Henry Candy

DOMINATE 3 Godfrey Wilson Richard Hannon

DR RED EYE 5 The Red Eye Partnership Scott Dixon

DUBAWI SOUND 5 Pearl Bloodstock Ltd David Brown

DUKE OF FIRENZE 4 Cheveley Park Stud Sir Michael Stoute

DUTCH MASTERPIECE 3 Richard Green Gary Moore

EL VIENTO (FR) 5 John Nicholls Ltd/David Kilburn Richard Fahey

ENROL 4 Cheveley Park Stud Sir Michael Stoute

EQUITY RISK (USA) 3 Clipper Logistics Kevin Ryan

EXCELLENT GUEST 6 John Guest Racing George Margarson

EXTRASOLAR 3 Odile Griffith & John Connolly Amanda Perrett

FACE THE PROBLEM (IRE) 5 Dr Marwan Koukash Jamie Osborne

FARLOW (IRE) 5 Red Sky Partnership 1 Richard Fahey

FITZ FLYER (IRE) 7 Mike Browne David Nicholls

FREDDY WITH A Y (IRE) 3 Mrs M J George Gary Moore

FREE ZONE 4 Fromthestables.Com Racing Bryan Smart

GOLDREAM 4 J Sargeant & Mrs J Morley Robert Cowell

GRAMERCY (IRE) 6 Dr Marwan Koukash David Simcock

GRAND DENIAL (IRE) 3 Alan Craddock Clive Cox

GRISSOM (IRE) 7 Jim & Helen Bowers Tim Easterby

HALLELUJAH 5 CLS (Chippenham) Limited James Fanshawe

HAMOODY (USA) 9 Hart Inn I David Nicholls

HAMZA (IRE) 4 Mubarak Al Naemi Kevin Ryan

HARRISON GEORGE (IRE) 8 Racing To The Max P J O’Gorman

HAWKEYETHENOO (IRE) 7 Johnnie Delta Racing Jim Goldie

HEAD OF STEAM (USA) 6 George Materna Amanda Perrett

HEAVEN’S GUEST (IRE) 3 J K Shannon & M A Scaife Richard Fahey

HEAVY METAL 3 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

HOOF IT 6 Chubby Chandler & Lee Westwood Michael Easterby

HUMIDOR (IRE) 6 Delancey George Baker

INDEGO BLUES 4 Pinnacle Indesatchel Partnership David Nicholls

JIMMY STYLES 9 Gwyn Powell and Peter Ridgers Clive Cox

JOE EILE (IRE) 5 HB Partnership Ger Lyons IRE

JOHANNES (IRE) 10 John Nicholls Ltd/David Kilburn Richard Fahey

JOHNNY CASTLE 5 George Materna & John McInerney Amanda Perrett

KUANYAO (IRE) 7 Matt & Lauren Morgan David Nicholls

LA FORTUNATA 6 James Patton Mike Murphy

LINKS DRIVE LADY 5 It’s Your Lucky Day Dean Ivory

LOUIS THE PIOUS 5 F Gillespie David O’Meara

LUNAR DEITY 4 Eden Racing (III) Eve Johnson Houghton

MAC’S POWER (IRE) 7 Broughton Thermal Insulation Willie Musson

MAJESTIC MANANNAN (IRE) 4 Mark & Maureen Schofield David Nicholls

MAJESTIC MOON (IRE) 3 James Gaffney Richard Fahey

MASAMAH (IRE) 7 Dr Marwan Koukash Marco Botti

MILLY’S GIFT 3 Ken Lock Racing Clive Cox

MISSISSIPPI 4 Laurence O’Kane David Barron

MISTER MANANNAN (IRE) 6 Mrs M Schofield David Nicholls

MOVIESTA (USA) 3 Redknapp, Salthouse & Fiddes Bryan Smart

NASSAU STORM 4 The Oil Men Partnership William Knight

NINJAGO 3 J Palmer-Brown & Potensis Ltd Richard Hannon

NOVELLEN LAD (IRE) 8 Johnson & Broughton Willie Musson

NOVERRE TO GO (IRE) 7 Robert & Nina Bailey Ron Harris

OUT DO 4 Leonidas Marinopoulos Luca Cumani

PABUSAR 5 Ken Gundlach Jamie Osborne

PEA SHOOTER 4 Margaret Forsyth Kevin Ryan

PERSONAL TOUCH 4 Nicholas Wrigley & Kevin Hart Richard Fahey

PICTURE DEALER 4 Richard Green Gary Moore

PISCEAN (USA) 8 Andrew Duffield Tom Keddy

POLSKI MAX 3 Market Avenue Racing & Tremousser Richard Fahey

POOLE HARBOUR (IRE) 4 The Heffer Syndicate Richard Hannon

PRODIGALITY 5 Paul Moulton Ron Harris

RACY 6 Koo’s Racing Club Brian Ellison

RASAMAN (IRE) 9 Paul Moulton Jim Goldie

REGAL PARADE 9 Dab Hand Racing Milton Bradley

REX IMPERATOR 4 George Turner William Haggas

RIGHT TOUCH 3 Nicholas Wrigley & Kevin Hart Richard Fahey

ROCKET ROB (IRE) 7 John Searchfield Willie Musson

RODRIGO DE TORRES 6 Brian Morton David Nicholls

ROTHESAY CHANCER 5 Discovery Racing Club 2 Jim Goldie

ROYAL ROCK 9 Ms Aida Fustoq Chris Wall

SACROSANCTUS 5 Paul Dixon Scott Dixon

SECRET WITNESS 7 Paul Moulton Ron Harris

SEEKING MAGIC 5 The Seekers Clive Cox

SHORE STEP (IRE) 3 Jon and Julia Aisbitt Mick Channon

SHROPSHIRE (IRE) 5 Catherine Corbett & Chris Wright Charlie Hills

SIGNOR SASSI 4 A Brooks William Knight

SIR MAXIMILIAN (IRE) 4 Paul Wildes Ian Williams

SIRIUS PROSPECT (USA) 5 Miss N Yarrow Dean Ivory

SMOOTHTALKINRASCAL (IRE) 3 Cheveley Park Stud David O’Meara

SOUND OF GUNS 3 Howard Russell Ed Walker

STONEFIELD FLYER 4 G R Leckie Keith Dalgleish

STORM MOON (USA) 3 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

SUMMERINTHECITY (IRE) 6 Dr Marwan Koukash David Nicholls

SUNNY SIDE UP (IRE) 4 Jim McGrath, Roger & Dianne Trevitt Richard Fahey

TAAJUB (IRE) 6 Peter Crate Peter Crate

TAKE COVER 6 Norcroft Park Stud David Griffiths

TANGO SKY (IRE) 4 Dr Marwan Koukash David Nicholls

TAROOQ (USA) 7 The Tarooq Partnership Stuart Williams

TATLISU (IRE) 3 Middleham Park Racing LIV Richard Fahey

TAX FREE (IRE) 11 David Nicholls & Mrs J Love David Nicholls

THREES GRAND 3 Paul Dixon &Jayne Jackson Scott Dixon

THUNDERBALL 7 The Doncaster Racing Club Scott Dixon

TIDDLIWINKS 7 Guy Reed Kevin Ryan

TIME AND PLACE 3 Mel Roberts & Ms Nicola Meese 1 Richard Fahey

TITUS GENT 8 Guy Carstairs and Rock & Rollers Jeremy Gask

TOP BOY 3 Brian Johnson (Northamptonshire) Derek Shaw

TROPICS (USA) 5 Dean Ivory Dean Ivory

VINCENTTI (IRE) 3 Robert & Nina Bailey Ronald Harris

WHOZTHECAT (IRE) 6 Simon Bean Declan Carroll

YEEOOW (IRE) 4 R Lee & Elaine Burke Elaine Burke

YORK GLORY (USA) 5 Salman Rashed & Mohamed Khalifa Kevin Ryan

ZERO MONEY (IRE) 7 Kremlin Cottage III Hugo Palmer