Taking pride of place on Goodwood's card today is the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes, in which it is difficult to oppose the highly progressive Araafa.
A seven-furlong maiden winner at the first time of asking last year, he has improved in every race and the promise of his excellent fourth in George Washington's 2000 Guineas has been well and truly fulfilled.
Many racing enthusiasts pointed to the prevailing heavy ground for his subsequent defeat of George Washington in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, but the number of doubters dwindled after the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Proving just as effective on good to firm ground, Araafa followed Aidan O'Brien's pacemaker and, after being committed over two furlongs out, was always in command.
He is taking on older horses such as Soviet Song for the first time, but Araafa is capable of completing a superb Group One hat-trick.
The Invesco Perpetual Goodwood Stakes, over two miles and five furlongs, represents a gruelling test of stamina which should be ideal
for Dorothy's Friend while Paul Cole's Strategic Prince, who destroyed Group Two opposition in the July Stakes at Newmarket, is the one to watch in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.
Princess Cocoa is improving all the time and can extend an excellent run of results by taking the Weatherbys Bank Fillies' Stakes.
