The Wine Tipster: “Desert Encounter and Julie Johnston can join Battaash in winning on Friday”

WE have seen some incredible racing at the 2020 Qatar Goodwood Festival, with Stradivarius making history in the Goodwood Cup on Tuesday by winning the race for the fourth time. Today, Battaash is looking for his fourth straight success in the Qatar King George Stakes Group 2 and he is hard to oppose as he looked as good as ever when winning the King’s Stand Stakes Group 1 at the Royal meeting. He is also so ground versatile too and he will win in emphatic style once again. 

The Thoroughbred Stakes Group 3 is fascinating with Royal Ascot easy winner Khaloosy, who looks a very exciting prospect, taken on by My Oberon, who stormed clear at York on his second start. This is going to be some race to watch.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

 

1.10 Goodwood Handicap (1m 3f)

Al Qaqaa took a big step up on anything he’d done previously when making all on quick ground at Newmarket last month on his latest start and moving clear in good style. The fourth home that day Table Mountain won last weekend and the form looks solid, whilst the William Haggas yard are in good form too.

Unibet 9/4 win

 

1.45 Goodwood Oak Tree Stakes Group 3 (7f)

Final Song, who ran a stormer when fourth in the 1,000 Guineas, has a good each way chance back on some good ground for the first time since the Guineas. She looked really impressive at Newmarket, so ignore her last start at Haydock when the ground didn’t suit, and she didn’t get a clear run at all. There is more improvement to come.

Unibet 12/1 each way

 

2.45 Goodwood Unibet Golden Mile Handicap (1m)

Sir Busker has season form figures of 112 and it is really hard to knock his claims, given he’s running so well in big handicaps and will appreciate the step back up to 1m after his Bunbury Cup second to Motakhayyel, despite hanging badly left. This followed up his really good Silver Royal Hunt Cup success at Ascot. Sir Busker won here last year and has a good draw in stall 7. Unibet are paying AN EXTRA PLACE on this race.

Unibet 13/2 each way

 

Willie John the last time he ran at Goodwood in 2019 was second behind Elarqam in a Listed contest. On his only start this season he was poorly drawn at Ascot in the Royal Hunt Cup. He has been gelded since and is a very interesting each way selection. Unibet are paying AN EXTRA PLACE on this race.

Unibet 14/1 each way

 

3.45 Goodwood Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes Group 3 (1m 3f)

Desert Encounter beat Mirage Dancer fair and square in this last year and the quick ground will certainly suit here. At Newmarket last time out on soft going Desert Encounter on showed he was coming back right back to form when third in a Group 2 at the July meeting, one place behind Communique (reopposes and Newmarket always suits him). Today, Desert Encounter will beat his main rival Communique.

Unibet 11/4 win

 

4.20 Goodwood New Unibet Instant Roulette Nursery Handicap (6f)

Julie Johnston for the Mark Johnston team scooted up at York last Saturday leading from start to finish and is 3lb well in under the penalty here. Has the rails draw to work from as well and is going to be very hard to pass if grabbing the lead early.

Unibet 11/10 win