The Glorious Stakes betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say Mirage Dancer is worth a wager to land the Group 2 1m 4f contest on day four of the Goodwood Festival. Last year’s runner-up Second Step may be the main danger, while 2017 Epsom Derby fourth Eminent is each-way value stepping up to this distance for the first time since that creditable Classic run. Our 2018 Glorious Stakes betting tips preview has more on all these horses.
Mirage Dancer can bring up Glorious hat-trick for Moore and Stoute
The potent combination of jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Sir Michael Stoute have teamed up to ride and saddle the last two winners of the Group 2 1m 4f Glorious Stakes at Goodwood, so Mirage Dancer looks worth a wager to land the hat-trick for connections on Friday (13:50).
This Prince Khalid Abdullah owned four-year-old son of Frankel is bidding to follow in the footsteps of Kings Fete and Poet’s Word and, at this stage of his career, is officially rated higher than both on a mark of 114. Bearing in mind that the latter has come out and since finished first or second in five of his six Group 1 races, big things are expected of Mirage Dancer.
He is already a winner over course and distance – one of two in the lineup – and that was at Listed level three starts ago. Mirage Dancer tracked the leaders in a steadily run contest, then was ridden upsides to take it it at the furlong marker and was soon in command.
As he was eased close home by his jockey on the day Pat Dobbs, he was value more than the winning margin of three lengths over Euginio. Mirage Dancer also had the re-opposing Blakeney Point a length further back in third, so has nothing to fear from that rival here.
There were then excuses for him when fifth in a similar grade affair at Royal Ascot as he was denied a clear run at a crucial stage in the Wolferton Stakes. As Mirage Dancer was only beaten 2 3/4 lengths, it was a solid effort given how the race panned out.
Moore tried to make all from the front on him last time out in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival and he was just held half-a-length by Best Solution. A more tactical ride here where Mirage Dancer is the highest rated in the lineup should see him involved in the finish.
Second Step a danger based on great Goodwood record
Beckhampton maestro Roger Charlton sends Second Step after the Glorious spoils for a second successive year and, given he has always made the frame in three career starts at Goodwood, he rates the biggest danger bidding to go one better.
Now aged seven, this son of Dalakhani out of a Sadler’s Wells mare has always finished in the first three in eight career starts for his current handler. Those include winning the same Listed race over course and distance last year as Mirage Dancer did this season.
When in the care of Luca Cumani, Second Step landed a Group 1 contest in Germany so on his day has a big race in him. After running a number of solid races in defeat last season, which include a 1 1/2 lengths runner-up to the aforementioned Poet’s Word in the Glorious 12 months ago, he notched a third career success at Listed level during the July Festival last time out.
Second Step was produced to lead before two out by Andrea Atzeni and only had to be shaken up before running on for a 2 1/2 lengths victory over Dylan Mouth in the Fred Archer Stakes. The assessor seems happy enough with his current mark of 110 as it is unchanged for the seventh consecutive race, but he won the Group 1 in Germany off 118.
As the joint oldest in the lineup, Second Step may not be open to further progress but this trip is sure to suit and he has run into some very good horses in defeat of late. It would be no surprise to see him give Mirage Dancer the most to think about, then.
Eminent appeals each-way
Given how highly tried Martyn Meade inmate Eminent has been, it’s hard to think of him as unexposed – but over a mile-and-a-half he fits into that bracket after just one career start over the distance. Stepping back up in trip may represent some each-way value here.
That sole run over 1m 4f for this other son of Frankel was in the 2017 Epsom Derby. Eminent was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths down in fourth behind Wings Of Eagles and held every chance 100 yards from home, but found himself short of room near the finish.
Connections dropped him back in trip and he has only contested 10 furlong races and one at a mile since. Those include a Group 2 win in France at Deauville where Eminent made all to land the spoils unchallenged.
Dropping back to a mile last time out didn’t really suit as he lacked the pace to quicken, but going up in distance may see Eminent in a better light. He is our recommended each-way bet for this as there may still be more to come from him at this trip.Your Next Bet
