Key questions as bookies brace themselves for Frankie fever on Mojito

3.00 Goodwood
Unibet Golden Mile Handicap | 1m, 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Will a low draw prove key again?

The Unibet Golden Mile should be a difficult race for punters but in recent years it has been rather easy. There are plenty of reasons to think bookmakers will suffer again.

Around Goodwood's turning mile a low draw is plainly beneficial, as has been shown with the last three winners coming out of stalls three, three and one. Two were sent off favourite at 7-4 and 9-2. The other was second favourite at 6-1. All three were ridden by Ryan Moore. This time, perhaps, punters will plunge on the mount of another star rider who has been in the most irresistible form.

For while Moore is reunited with last year's victor, the Queen's Seniority, trainer William Haggas has an even more eyecatching candidate in Mojito, the winner of a similar contest at Sandown last month when racing for the first time since October 2017. The five-year-old appeared to score with something to spare, he returns 3lb well in at the weights and the man on board is called Frankie Dettori.

As icing on the cake, a stall nine draw is far from desperate, putting him two berths closer to the fence than stable companion Seniority. Even so, Haggas is not getting carried away.

"I'm not sure about the track for Mojito," said Haggas. "He had soundness issues last year but he's fine now and in good form. He's a good horse, and we're obviously hopeful, but this is his second run back from a long spell, so who knows? He'll probably go forward but you don't tell Frankie how to ride a horse.

"Seniority is a bit higher in the weights than last year, but he's really well, he'll love the ground and Ryan suits him. I expect him to run a good race."

Can Vision overcome draw and make winning Goodwood return?

Mark Johnston has won the Golden Mile on five occasions but both of his 2019 representatives, Dark Vision and Vale Of Kent, have landed nasty draws in stalls 19 and 17 respectively.

The pain feels particularly deep when it comes to Dark Vision given he otherwise looks an ideal candidate having stormed to Group 2 glory at this meeting last year, since when his failure to win again has led to a descent down the ratings.

"I really fancied Dark Vision until the draw came out," said the trainer's son and assistant Charlie Johnston. "If he'd been drawn one to ten I'd have been very strong on him, but from 19 Oisin Murphy is going to need a lot of luck.

Dark Vision was impressive when winning at Glorious Goodwood last yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"He ran the best race of his life at this meeting last year and we feel going back to a mile with first-time headgear should be in his favour. In that sense this is an obvious race, although when it comes to us targeting races, saying we've targeted this race only really means we didn't run him last week!"

Johnston added: "Even from stall 17 Franny Norton will hopefully be able to get a prominent position on Vale Of Kent without using too much petrol. He's a Bunbury Cup winner and the ground was just too soft for him at Ascot on Saturday."

What they say

Charlie Hills, trainer of Afaak
He's drawn okay in stall 14 and I've been very pleased with him since his good run in the John Smith’s Cup at York. If he can get a nice run round then he’s got an excellent chance of being involved again.

David O'Meara, trainer of So Beloved, Escobar and Baltic Baron
Escobar won nicely the last day and the horse he beat has won again since. So Beloved loves it around Goodwood and has been there for the last four years. Baltic Baron has been second for a lot of his life so he deserves to win one. They're all drawn in the middle, which is fine, but you need plenty of luck in this race.

Afaak (near side) and Clon Coulis fought out a desperately close finish to the Royal Hunt CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

David Barron, trainer of Clon Coulis
We've been drawn 18 but that doesn't make a lot of difference to us because she'd be dropped out anyway and would need luck wherever she was drawn. She's a very good filly and has a lot of ability, as she showed when going agonisingly close in the Hunt Cup. She also looks a million dollars but will need the gaps to come, which you can never be confident about at Goodwood.

Dominic Ffrench Davis, trainer of Indeed
He's in great order and came out of Newmarket very well. This has been the plan but I'm hoping the ground doesn't dry out and the draw hasn't been very kind, either. I do think the horse could be up to Listed and even Group 3 level, so if the draw scuppers our chances there should be other days for him.

Gary Moore, trainer of Gossiping
We've had no help at all. The ground would have been better for us at the start of the week and we've been drawn 21 as well. He does settle so much better these days so Shane Kelly might be able to slot him in, but I'll leave it up to him and hope he can sort something out. The horse has been in fantastic form but he's suffered for that with his rating.

David Menuisier, trainer of History Writer
If the ground holds on to good I'll probably run him, but if it goes to good to firm I probably won't. I declared him hoping Goodwood might get a freak shower, which is why I couldn't take him out in time for the reserves. He does handle quicker ground but he isn't as good on it. If the ground was suitable he'd have every chance because even off 97 I think there is more to come and he could end up in stakes races.

Roger Varian, trainer of Game Player
He was unlucky at Ayr, where he had no luck in running. All the boxes are ticked for the ground, trip and draw, but we'll have to see if he's up to winning a Golden Mile.

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