Lady Iman Invades From Ireland To Contest G3 Molecomb
Winners of the Sussex Stakes and Molecomb Stakes to Receive Automatic Berths into Oct. 31–Nov 1. World Championships at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
CHICHESTER, England – This week’s iconic Goodwood Festival features three European races in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The festival’s richest race, the £1 million Sussex Stakes (G1) on July 30 serves as an automatic qualifier for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), while the Molecomb Stakes (G3) over 5 furlongs on the same card offers a free entry into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). The July 31 card features the Nassau Stakes (G1), a “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Field of Gold, Rosallion Headline G1 Sussex
The Sussex Stakes is set to host a mighty clash Wednesday between the highest rated 3-year-old in training in the UK, Field of Gold (IRE), and last year’s Irish Guineas (G1) victor, Rosallion (IRE).
Field of Gold, owned by Juddmonte and trained by John and Thady Gosden, is looking to emulate his sire Kingman (GB) by winning the Irish Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, and the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday. William Buick has been booked to ride.
Field of Gold is currently the hot favorite to add another Group 1 to his CV, and regarding his chances, John Gosden said: “He has been a grand horse to train; he’s done nothing but thrive this year. We’ve been pleased with his progress all the way through and he’s in great order now. It’s very much the obvious race to go to for him. He does have that great turn of foot, and let’s hope we get a clear run, and he can produce it on the day.
“The Sussex is a different test of a horse. If you’ve ever walked the track, it’s quite a surprise, it runs down into a dip, swings up and around. You don’t want too big a field and get a high draw because you are literally down the hill looking at the horses getting the shortest run round up the hill, so the draw is a big factor there if you get a large field.”
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Rosallion, trained by Richard Hannon, boasted the exact same 3-year-old record as Field of Gold last year when an ill-timed respiratory infection ruled him out of the Sussex Stakes. After a year on the sidelines, he returned to the track in the Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury, where he finished third. He then headed to Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race, where he finished a desperate second by a nose.
The eventual winner, Docklands (GB), owned by O T I Racing, has also been declared for Wednesday’s thrilling Sussex renewal. The 5-year-old provided his Newmarket-based trainer, Harry Eustace, with a first Group 1 winner in the Queen Anne, and a guaranteed berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He finished second to Charyn (IRE) in the race last year. The son of Massaat ran in four international Group 1 contests over the winter, including the Hong Kong Mile in Sha Tin, but failed to place.
Eustace was measured about his chances and said: “He has been super and seems to have come out of Royal Ascot very well. He’s done a couple of bits of work since.
“I don’t think we are under any illusions. We take on the 3-year-olds, particularly Field of Gold, which will be the toughest opponent he’s faced so far, but I feel he’s in as good a place as we have ever had him.
“I think the track will be fine. He handled Epsom no problem at all, so the cambers of the track I don’t think will be an issue. The quality that might be another matter.”
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Henri Matisse (IRE) is currently third in the betting for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Merriebelle Irish Farm LTD, the 3-year-old by Wootton Bassett (GB) won the French Guineas (G1) before he was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Field of Gold in the St. James’s Palace Stakes last time out.
Yulong Investments (Australia) Pty’s Carl Spackler (IRE) now represents Australia having previously been based in the United States, where he finished sixth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) when trained by Chad Brown before going on to win the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in April. The striking chestnut by Lope De Vega (IRE) is a multiple Grade 1 winner in the U.S. and will be partnered by jockey Shane Foley on Wednesday.
Juddmonte’s Qirat (GB) and outsider Serengeti (FR), owned by Coolmore connections and Peter Brant, complete the field of seven.
Lady Iman Invades From Ireland To Contest G3 Molecomb
Lady Iman (IRE) currently sits at the top of the betting at 9-4 to take on the English in a field of eight in the Molecomb Stakes, which joined the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series this year. The Starman (GB) filly, owned by Mrs. A O’Callaghan and trained by Ger Lyons, was unbeaten in her first three starts, which included Listed and Group 3 contests – most notably the Fillies Sprint Stakes (G3) at Naas in May. However, her winning run was stopped by Aidan O’Brien’s Beautify (IRE) in the Arlie Stud Stakes (G2) at The Curragh over 6 furlongs. She is dropping back to 5 furlongs on Wednesday with Ryan Moore on board.
Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah’s Ameeq (IRE) stunned all by finishing fourth, only 3 1/2 lengths behind Charles Darwin, in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot despite his starting odds of 100-1. After a poor debut run at Beverley, the Kevin Ryan-trained son of Mehmas (IRE) broke his maiden at Nottingham second time out.
Kevin Ryan also saddles Dickensian (GB), owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who finished second by 1 1/2 lengths behind Havanna Hurricane (GB) in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in his most recent start.
Godolphin’s Military Code (GB), a son of Wootton Bassett, also disappointed at Ascot finishing well down the field in the 6f Coventry Stakes (G2). He finished second in his most recent start in a Listed contest at Sandown back over 5f and will look to go one better on Wednesday.
Argentine Tango (GB) is an interesting runner for Bearstone Stud Limited. The daughter of Mattmu (GB) outperformed her 9-1 odds in her last start at Newmarket in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G3) when finishing third, having won a Listed race at the same track a few weeks prior. It has been an upwards trajectory for Tim Easterby’s filly all season, however, the Yorkshire-based trainer was not particularly delighted about her draw.
Easterby said: “The ground is good which suits her, but she’s drawn in stall 1 which is not ideal, but what can you do. She should run well. She’s been training very well into the race, and we were very happy with her Newmarket performance behind Venetian Sun (IRE). She’s got seven others to beat today though, but she’s going into it as well as she could be.”
J Maldonado’s Sands of Spain (IRE) will be partnered by Oisin Murphy for trainer Andrew Balding. The Rogues Gallery-owned Rogue Supremacy (GB) and A M Pickering’s Rydale Frosty (GB) complete the field.
The going is currently good ahead of Wednesday.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Sussex Stakes to start in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile and for the winner of the Molecomb Stakes to start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 furlongs. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
