Allegretto bids for second Goodwood Cup victory

The Royal Bank Of Scotland Goodwood Cup (3.30pm) is the feature contest on the third day of Glorious Goodwood, Thursday, July 31. The five-day summer spectacular is the highlight of the season at picturesque Goodwood and offers top-class racing amid scenic splendour.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Allegretto, ridden by Ryan Moore, stayed on strongly to take last year's highly-competitive renewal of the Royal Bank Of Scotland Goodwood Cup by half a length from Veracity.

Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director, Chris Richardson, revealed today: "We are hoping that Allegretto might go to Goodwood for the Royal Bank Of Scotland Goodwood Cup. It is certainly under consideration but obviously it is still early days and lots of things can happen between now and then.

"She disappointed on the soft ground at Sandown first time out this season and then she ran a better race at Ascot. I hope she has maintained a similar level to last year and we will give her another chance to prove it before deciding on her future."

After crossing the line last of eight in the Group Two Betfair Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May, the five-year-old Galileo mare caught the eye with late progress to take fourth behind the great Yeats in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Richardson continued: "Allegretto stayed on well at the end of the Gold Cup, it was almost as if Ryan (Moore) had given up and she wanted to get back at the fifth and managed to pick up fourth. She's an extremely gutsy filly and that was probably stretching her stamina. It was nice to see that she settled but I still think she's better when there's a slightly faster pace.

"She is the sort of filly who I think will improve now that she has the better ground and, as we know from last year, the trip at Goodwood will suit."

Allegretto is bidding to become the first dual winner since Persian Punch (2001 & 2003) and the first back-to-back victor since the great Double Trigger, who took the spoils in 1997 and 1998, having also triumphed in 1995.

Yeats became only the second horse in history to win three Gold Cups at Royal Ascot when seeing off Geordieland for the second year running at Royal Ascot in June. The great Irish stayer, trained by the all-conquering Aidan O'Brien, could bid for a second Royal Bank Of Scotland Goodwood Cup, having brushed aside Geordieland to take the 2006 renewal.

O'Brien is also considering the race for Queen Alexandra Stakes victor Honolulu, who saw off the veteran Distinction to take that prize. The latter was victorious in the 2005 Royal Bank Of Scotland Goodwood Cup.