GEORGE BOUGHEY: Weekend Preview (Newcastle)

With just a few days to go until Glorious Goodwood, excitement is really beginning to build. We’ve only got a couple of runners this weekend, but it’s a good opportunity to keep the momentum going before what promises to be a hugely exciting week on the Sussex Downs, headlined by Bow Echo in Wednesday’s Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes, writes GEORGE BOUGHEY.

Here’s my look ahead to the weekend’s runners.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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SATURDAY

MIRZIMAAN – 2:39pm Newcastle

Mirzimaan showed much more of what we’ve been seeing at home when he ran at Newbury, and he’s always worked well on an all-weather surface. I think returning to a flat track will suit him and allow him to show himself in a better light.
He’s a horse we’ve always thought would improve with time and being out of a half-sister to Battaash, there’s plenty to like about his pedigree. He’s been handed a nice draw and goes there with a good chance.

ZATSGOOD – 3:15pm Newcastle

We’re still getting to know Zatsgood, but we’ve been able to get much more work into him ahead of this run than we have for a while. I slightly felt a combination of the Kempton surface and just needing the outing last time counted against him.

He’s certainly fitter now, his work has continued to be good, and I’m hopeful he can begin to put together a winning sequence. He heads to Newcastle with a solid chance.

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Weekend Thoughts

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is always one of the highlights of the Flat season and it’s another fascinating renewal. The increased prize-money continues to attract an outstanding international field, and having Japanese representation only adds to the occasion.

If Calandagan can reproduce the form he showed earlier in the season, I think he’ll take plenty of beating. Hopefully we’ll see another true champion crowned at Ascot.

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👒 Looking Ahead To Goodwood

Attention then quickly turns to Goodwood. There were no real surprises among the five-day confirmations for the Sussex Stakes with only Aidan O’Brien supplementing Dorset.

I’m pleased to see a relatively big field still intact and, with a decent amount of pace likely to be on offer if they all line up, it should set up as a proper Group 1. I certainly wouldn’t swap Bow Echo for any of them!

He’s in great shape and all systems are go for what promises to be one of the races of the season.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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