Classic generation holds the aces as big players gather for defining hand

How much difference Qatar’s largesse has made to the line-up will remain a moot point, but today’s £1 million Sussex Stakes has a double-figure field for the first time since 2005 and is as intriguing a Group 1 as we have had all year.

Few would argue that last year’s first running of the race with Qatar backing benefited from their financial infusion, although Solow went off a 2-5 chance in a somewhat one-sided affair despite its eight runners.

A year earlier Kingman started at the same price to beat the previous year’s winner Toronado and only two others, and two years before that Frankel was 1-20 in another four-runner affair. Small and uncompetitive fields were becoming all too common.