The Goodwood is a Group 1 race over 1200m at set weights and penalties at Morphettville racecourse in Adelaide that was first run in 1881.
It has been won by some very good sprinters including Royal Gem (1946), Takeover Target (2009), Black Caviar (2011) and Santa Ana Lane (2018).
Our runner by runner guide and full 2021 The Goodwood Preview can be viewed below.
Behemoth
Behemoth made his Group 1 debut in this race in 2019 when beaten by Despatch by a nose and he finished fourth in the race last year behind Trekking.
He started his spring campaign in 2020 with three wins on the trot including back to back Group 1 wins in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
There is no doubt that he is a horse that does his best racing fresh and he has had nine weeks now since his third in the All-Star Mile at The Valley.
He will go close to being favourite in the race and he has won six of eight when the punters elect.
Over 1400m he is a much better horse but his class will take him a long way in this race.
Gytrash
Gytrash split Trekking and Behemoth in the 2020 edition of The Goodwood, going down by the barest of margins.
The Gordan Richards trained gelding has been incredibly consistent throughout his career, and well placed by his trainer, having won 10 of 22 starts and been unplaced just once.
His sole Group 1 victory came in the 2020 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes but he has been placed at Group 1 level three times as well as a third in The Everest.
He has won four of six first up and is again one of the main chances in the race.
Kemalpasa
Kemalpasa is another horse that the punters have faith in having placed in 23 of his 32 career starts including seven of his last eight.
He was enormous in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield when beaten 0.2 lengths behind Portland Sky and Celebrity Queen.
Having had eight weeks in between runs, he then took out the Group 3 Irwan Stakes by two lengths at this track last start.
The double figure odds does seem a touch of overs from a very capable sprinter.
Dirty Work
Dirty Work took out the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield before finishing third at The Valley in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes to close out his spring campaign.
His first up run when beaten half a length in the Oakleigh Plate was full of promise but his subsequent two runs at Group 1 level were very disappointing.
This lower standard Group 1 is more his go but he will need to improve on his last two efforts to be a chance in this race.
Viridine
Viridine has had four cracks at the highest level of racing with his best effort being a sixth in the 2019 Stradbroke Handicap.
He has earned another crack at a Group 1 with a fourth, beaten 4.8 lengths, at Group 3 level last start.
That form is not good enough for a race of this quality.
Savatoxl
Savatoxl was beaten 6.4 lengths behind Kemelpasa first up in the Irwan Stakes but earned this Group 1 start when winning by three lengths last time out at Group 3 level.
He is a winner.
15 times from 27 starts including four from eight at the distance.
He is unproven at this level, but he is a horse in form and while the top two in betting may have him covered, he is a place chance.
Pretty Brazen
Pretty Brazen has been a very consistent mare who has been competitive in Group company throughout her career.
The two-time Group 2 winner comes into this race off the back of a really nice effort in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes when she was beaten just 2.4 lengths behind Instant Celebrity.
The stable has decided to keep her over the sprint distances and while I’m confident she will run well, I just don’t think she is up to these top line, open class, sprinters.
Beau Rossa
Beau Rossa is a very progressive type of galloper who brings in some different form to the 2021 The Goodwood.
The chestnut gelding has won three of his four starts so far this prep including a seven lengths win at Sandown and a last start win at Group 2 level at the track and distance.
He is a horse with untapped ability and it is hard to put a line through him.
While his current price does look a little skinny against some seasoned, proven Group 1 sprinters but it would not surprise to see him continue to step up and run well.
Instant Celebrity
The 2021 Robert Sangster Stakes winner just keeps going to another level whenever she is seen at the races.
The three year old filly broke through for her maiden Group 1 victory at just her seventh start two weeks ago making it five wins in her career.
Craig Williams jumps off to ride Gytrash and Jamie Kah will jump aboard for the first time, steering from barrier 11.
She meets a few of these worse at the weights for this assignment but she is a very classy filly who’s chances only increase with the more pace that is piled on up front.
Prophet’s Thumb
Prophet’s Thumb is a mare racing really well at the moment.
She won the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes first up from a spell and while she hasn’t won in four subsequent runs, she has been far from disgraced.
Her last start seventh behind Instant Celebrity in the Robert Sangster was full of merit and it would not surprise if she ran well again at the top level.
The market has her price just about right.
Dollar For Dollar
Dollar For Dollar was well beaten in an open Handicap at Caulfield last start.
He has been given five weeks in between runs but would need to dramatically turn that form around to be competitive in this event.
The Goodwood Tips
Savatoxl at $19.00