Who will shine in Opera Ballo's absence? Analysis and quotes for the Thoroughbred Stakes

Embryonic top-class milers are frequent runners in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, a mini Sussex for the slower-maturing three-year-old.

Lockinge one-two Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini contested the previous running. Queen Anne winner Docklands turned up in 2023. Bayside Boy failed to justify favouritism in 2022 before winning the QEII, while the most notable career to be launched in recent seasons was that of the 2021 winner Baaeed, who went on to dominate the mile scene.

Owing to the absence of early favourite Opera Ballo, one runner towers above the rest on form, Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year.

Cosmic Year's career may have taken a different turn if Field Of Gold hadn't been rerouted to Ireland after his Newmarket Classic defeat. Field Of Gold earned his redemption at the Curragh, while Cosmic Year was forced to give way to an exceptional miler at the peak of his powers.

Perhaps the deluge Goodwood endured is against Cosmic Year. He arrived in the soft-ground 7f Prix Jean Prat with a favourite’s chance last time and travelled into the race superbly before finding little under pressure. That hardly bodes well for an extra furlong, for all he looked an exciting prospect beforehand.

Rain is often a great leveller and Sir Henry Cecil third King Of Cities is a big player in the absence of Opera Ballo on this softer ground. 

King Of Cities pulled clear with a good horse who we haven't seen since (Almeric) in the Feilden Stakes on his return and was campaigned as a French Derby horse after that. 

The son of Dubawi is being reinvented as a miler and has plenty of relatives who act on slower ground in his pedigree. Note his dam was second in the Ribblesdale on soft going.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Harry Charlton, trainer of Cosmic Year
We're looking forward to getting him back on track and he seems in really good form.

Richard Brown, adviser to Wathnan Racing, owners of Diego Ventura
He's been very consistent for us and never been out the first four. The rain will help his cause.

Richard Hannon, trainer of King Of Cities
We welcome the rain and it’s a race that will suit him. We'll ride him a little more positively this time. Ryan Moore is booked and he nearly won the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on him.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Seagulls Eleven
He’s come out of Newmarket great, he looks fantastic and his work has been really good. It's a very strong race but he goes on any ground.
Reporting by Oliver Barnard and Sadie Iddenden

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