Poetic Flare odds-on to land Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

Withdrawal of Palace Pier sees Jim Bolger’s Classic star slashed in the betting

Poetic Flare ridden by Kevin Manning on their way to winning the St James’s Palace Stakes on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet, in Ascot, west of London on June 15th. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images

Jim Bolger's Classic star Poetic Flare is odds-on to land next Wednesday's Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner was slashed in the betting on Tuesday after confirmation that the star older miler Palace Pier has been forced to miss the race.

“His bloods are off and obviously it wouldn’t have been the right thing to do to try and push him into the Sussex.

"The next race that suits him is the Prix Jacques Le Marois [but] we'll have to miss Goodwood which is frustrating," said trainer Thady Gosden.

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Poetic Flare is now a best-priced 4-5 to go one better than his sire Dawn Approach in 2013.

Rely

The latter also won the Guineas and the St James’s Palace but lost out by half a length to his old rival Toronado in the Sussex that year.

Aidan O'Brien has won the Sussex five times already and could rely on the Breeders Cup winner Order Of Australia at Goodwood.

Naas hosts black type action on Wednesday where Teresa Mendoza will try to bounce back from a poor effort at Deauville over a week ago.

A poor start ruined her chance in France and she can't afford a repeat against the 101-rated Dickiedooda in particular in the Yeomanstown Stud Stakes.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column