Toronado and Dawn Approach all set for their QIPCO Sussex Stakes clash

Can Toronado, pictured here winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April, get the better of Dawn Approach when they meet for the third time next Wednesday? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Dawn Approach and Toronado are set to do battle for a third time this season with Europe’s leading three-year-old milers featuring among 13 six-day confirmations for the £300,000 Group 1 QIPCO Sussex Stakes (3.05pm) on day two of Glorious Goodwood, Wednesday 31 July. It is the fifth Mile race in the QIPCO British Champions Series.

The score is currently two-nil to Dawn Approach, trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger for Godolphin, who had Toronado seven and a half lengths behind when decisively taking the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on 4 May.

That margin of superiority was cut down to just a short-head in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18 as the Richard Hannon-trained Toronado was narrowly denied in a thrilling finish.

Both colts are taking on older horses for the first time and could face stiff opposition from the Aidan O’Brien-trained Declaration Of War.

The four-year-old readily captured the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and could step back to a mile after coming home second in the 10-furlong Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on 6 July.

Aljamaaheer and Gregorian filled the places behind Declaration Of War in the Queen Anne Stakes, while dual Group 1 heroine Sajjhaa could represent Godolphin.

Trade Storm is on course to line up for the older generation. The David Simcock-trained five-year-old was a Group 2 winner over a mile at Meydan, Dubai, in March and has run at Ascot on his last two starts.

On 18 June, he was fifth behind Declaration Of War in the Queen Anne Stakes and last time out came home fourth, beaten under two lengths, behind Aljamaaheer in the Summer Mile on 13 July.

David Redvers, racing manager to owners Qatar Racing Limited, said today: "It is very much the plan for Trade Storm to run in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes.

"His last two runs at Ascot were very good. He is a big, burly horse who takes time to get fit and his last start was a useful prep run for Goodwood.

"His overall level of form is good and sets a good standard for the three-year-olds in the race to aim at.

"I think he barely stays a mile, so a fast track like Goodwood should play to his strengths."

Glory Awaits was second to Dawn Approach in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, while O’Brien’s Gale Force Ten was runner-up in the Irish equivalent before winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, in which Godolphin’s Tawhid was third.

Olympic Glory, representing the same connections as Toronado, is set to head to France for the Prix Jacques le Marois and the confirmations are completed by likely pacemakers Reply and Leitir Mor.