Gordon Stakes 2012

2.35 Goodwood

bet365 Gordon Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £34,026

Advice: 1 pt win Noble Mission (7/2 Coral)

Ed De Gas: Back to the sort of form that had seen him touted as group horse when third in Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last time (2m, soft ground); Drop back in trip not expected to be a problem but this a much tougher task and others preffered.

Encke: Promising 2 year old (Debut form got a boost when winner was second in Autum Stakes and then ran out a really impressive winner of backend Newmarket maiden) who came back in excellent style when winning handicap on eagerly anticipated return, always looking as if he had more in the tank although trip not an absolute positive.

Farhaan: Progressive 2 year old until flopping in a good renewal of the Royal Lodge Stakes (the 3 Ballydoyle horses who filled the places had all won or placed in pattern company before or previously) when clearly not at his best,  returned in good style when fourth in the Fairway Stakes on his debut, an effort which at that the time had credit, but has since proven to be even better in hindsight; This trip might well suit and sure to have come on a ton for that but this a better race and stable well out of form, so others make more appeal today.

Girolamo: Has the best form claims on his German Derby third, with the previously very impressive Novelist just ahead in second and the winner having gone onto spread-eagle field in older horse Group 1 on Saturday;

Michaelangelo: Major promise when third behind Nible Mission on debut at Newmarket in Listed events and built on that majorly when then winning Listed event and valuable sales race dropped down in trip to an inadequate 1m4f; This (his first attempt) at the trip sure to bring out best in him and the one to beat here.

Minimise Risk: Not lived upto potential of maiden win at Newbury, being stone last in Chester Vase and then well behind in Derby and Queen’s Vase; Others more progressive.

Noble Mission: Full brother to Frankel who hasn’t done badly in trying to live upto his illustrious achievements, winning Listed event at Newmarket before creditable second infront of Farhaan (had also previously beaten Michelangelo on that one’s debut at 10f) in event that has since worked out very well; Second in King Edward Stakes last time as goof a piece of form as any and hopefully he can go one better here.

VERDICT: Michaelangelo is all the rage for this after a convincing win in a sales race last time, mainly upto the basis he will relish this longer trip. While that’s very true, I’m not sure he’s any value at his current price against NOBLE MISSION and Girolamo, both of whom boast excellent form courtesy of their latest runs and are sure to be hard to beat. It’s a tight choice but Henry Cecil’s runner looks sure to win a big race soon and can get the better of the German raider, with Encke sure to come on from his return for all this is a harder race upped in trip.