The excellent Ebor Festival draws to a close on Saturday afternoon. However, this weekend the high-class entertainment continues on Sunday, with seven contests rated at Group 3 level or above spread across Britain, Ireland, and France.
The pick of the domestic action comes from the Sussex track of Goodwood and a seven-race card featuring the Group 3 Prestige Fillies Stakes and the headline act of the Group 2 Celebration Mile.
Formerly known as the Wills Mile, Goodwood Mile, and Waterford Crystal Mile, the Celebration Mile first appeared on the Goodwood menu in 1967. Offering £158,500 in prize money, the race boasts an impressive roll of honour, including the names of Brigadier Gerard, Mark Of Esteem, Cape Cross, Raven’s Pass, and Poet’s Voice. Seven one-mile talents set out to add their names to that list in 2025 in a fiercely competitive renewal.
Jonquil to Score for Juddmonte?
Powerful owners Juddmonte last won the Celebration Mile with Tillerman in 2002. Since then, the operation behind the pale green and pink silks has sent out three seconds and one third. Could Jonquil be the horse to take Juddmonte back into the winner’s enclosure in 2025?
The market suggests he might, with the Andrew Balding-trained star currently topping the market at a general price of 2/1. Formerly based at the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, this son of Lope De Vega perhaps hasn’t quite delivered on his lofty reputation. However, there have certainly been signs of encouragement this season. Kicking off with a Group 3 success in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, he backed that up with a career-best effort when denied by a head in the French 2000 Guineas.
However, his form has since taken a dip. Dropping back to 6f didn’t work out in the Commonwealth Cup, while he ran a disappointing race to finish fifth in the Lennox Stakes at this track in July. A repeat of that effort in France makes him the one to beat, but the mount of Colin Keane will need to leave his most recent outings behind him.
A First Success for Hannon Jr?
Richard Hannon Snr toasted Celebration Mile success with Swing Low (1993) and Dubawi Gold (2011). Heading into the latest renewal, Richard Hannon Jr has yet to add to the family’s tally. Going close when 66/1 shot Emell finished second in 2014, Hannon has rarely threatened since, but he may have a chance to put that right in 2025.
The four-year-old Persica flies the flag for the Wiltshire yard and has every chance of going close on his best form. Successful three times at around this trip, he has posted two career-best wins already this season, in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes and Diomed Stakes. A dual winner in Group 3 company, the evidence suggests he is a notch below Group 1 level, but a Group 2 victory may be within reach.
King to Claim the Crown
With 22 wins at Listed level or above, headlined by the Group 1 triumphs of Hit Show, Lazzat, and Fallen Angel, 2025 has already been a year to remember for Wathnan Racing. Make Me A King is fancied by many to keep the good times rolling for the owners on Sunday afternoon.
The classy Make Me King strikes in our £50,000 feature, the Listed @SkyBet Pomfret Stakes, for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, jockey Danny Tudhope and owners Wathnan Racing pic.twitter.com/45gtol0Qjy
— PontefractRacecourse (@ponteraces) July 27, 2025
At five years old, this Hamad Al Jehani runner is the oldest horse in the field, but arrives right at the top of his game. Having scored in Listed company in Abu Dhabi and bagged a Group 3 in France, the good-looking grey posted his best effort on British soil last time out at Pontefract. This is a step up from that Listed Pomfret Stakes event, but he won nicely and appears to still be improving.
Defending Champ and Hattrick Seeker also Bring Solid Claims
Having cruised to a one-length victory in the 2024 edition, the Karl Burke-trained Ice Max bids to join Chic (2004, 2005) and Lightning Spear (2016, 2017) on a select list of dual Celebration Stakes winners. He hasn’t hit those heights so far this season, but perhaps a return to the scene of his finest hour will inspire improvement.
With 10 winners since 10 August, Ralph Beckett has his string in fine form at present. Following the success of Angel Bleu in 2023, the Kimpton handler also knows the type needed to prevail in this contest. All of which makes Saqqara Sands an interesting contender. Never out of the first three in six career outings, he bagged the Listed Eternal Stakes at Carlisle in June and followed up with a share of the honours in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at this track in July. If handling the step up to 1m, he looks like a big threat to all.
Course and distance winner Arisaig and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Balmacara round out the field in what promises to be a cracking renewal of this late summer highlight.
