The Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (G3) is a five-furlong contest for 2-year-olds run on the straight course at Goodwood as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival (Glorious Goodwood). The Wednesday feature carries a purse of of £110,000 (first prize around $146,334) and is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race offering an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland on October 30.
Established in 1829 and named after Molecomb House on the Goodwood Estate, it is one of the oldest races at the meeting. It was restricted to fillies from 1932 before reopening to colts and geldings in 1981.
Notable winners include the brilliant Mumtaz Mahal (1923), Marwell (1980), Fleeting Spirit (2007), Havana Grey (2017), Big Evs (2023) and Big Mojo (2024) and Lady Iman a year ago.
Legendary jockey Lester Piggott recorded eight wins over his career to lead all riders while John Barham Day and John Porter each saddled seven winners, both in the late 19th century. Recent trends favour horses with prior five-furlong experience, recent form, and those racing prominently or showing strong late speed.
A wide open field of 11 runners with a probably going of good features several with Group experience, notably from Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary (G3) and Norfolk Stakes (G2).
The bay filly Pershaada, trained by Richard Hannon, broke her maiden over this course and at the distance back in May, then ran an excellent fourth of 27 in the Queen Mary at Ascot. That form, plus her maiden win, gives her a bit of a class advantage here. She is likely to race close to the pace early.
Ruler’s Pride Karl Burke won his debut over five furlongs at Ayr in May before finishing 17th of 21 in the six-furlong Coventry Stakes (G2) at Ascot, though he did have a bit of a troubled trip. The Karl Burke trainee is bred for speed and dropping back a furlong with jockey James Doyle booked, he figures to have a say.
Adonius is an unbeaten chestnut gelding trained by Rebecca Menzies. The son of Soldier’s Call’s last two wins came in tough conditions success at Musselburgh and Chester in May. A front-runner by nature, he steps up to Group 3 after an 84-day break, but arrives with a strong speed profile and should be taken seriously.
Amo Racing’s Crownbreaker is a another filly and trained by Kevin Philippart De Foy. After a poor Carlisle run she finished a good fifth of 27 in Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, then won a listed race at Deauville last out. She should be in the mix and is expected to race close to the pace in the early going.
El Floridita is a bay colt trained by Nigel Tinkler coming off a nice second in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot a month ago. He broke his maiden at Redcar in May before his Ascot appearance where he lit up the tote at 150-1) in his 3 ½-length defeat. That effort puts him firmly in the mix here and he appears to show early speed.
Sale Shark is trained by Hugo Palmer and the son of Bayside boy won his five-furlong debut at Hamilton fifth in stakes company at both Ascot and Newbury in his last two. Now back at five furlogs with Oisin Murphy aboard, he is expected sit just off the pace and have a share at the finish.
Brazilian Diva is a filly trained by Diego Dias coming off a nice second in the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Tipperary Stakes at Naas after her maiden win over that course a month ago. Though another step forward is needed, she has so far improved with each start. She’ll likely sit mid-pack early and behind the early flight.
The Archie Watson-trained Flight Signal was way back and 20th of 21 in the Norfolk after winning impressively on debut at Bath in May. He’s probably best judged on the debut win and he should race with early speed if returning to that level.
Hell Of A Spin, trained by Adrian Paul Keatley, was second on debut at Newcastle before a narrow maiden win at Hamilton 18 days ago. He is eligible to improve but faces a major class rise. The Naval Crown colt is likely to race mid-pack early or even toward the rear before launching his late run.
Undercover Affair has nine starts already under his belt in his young career and the gray gelding, trained by David Evans, already has a win over course and distance in a selling stakes. He also captured a Windsor nursery event over a small feld and though he faces a significant step up in class, his proven affinity for the course helps. He is likely to race mid-pack in the early going.
Bill The Bull, who gets blinkers and a tongue tie for the first time, is trained by Adam Kirby and has had five starts already since his second outing two months ago at Wolverhampton on May 18. He won a Bath maiden in June but has struggled in listed/Group company since. He has some upside and will likely race mid-pack or further back.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
