Events / Malcolm Pannett / 27 July 2009 /

The Sussex Stakes is the highlight of the Glorious Goodwood meeting however it started as a poorly contested event for two-year-olds. Malcolm Pannett looks at the evolution of a great race

If it ain't broke don't fix it. But if it is then keep fixing it until it becomes one of the best mile races in Europe. This is the motto of the Sussex Stakes which has undergone three major changes in its race conditions and in doing so has evolved into the Glorious showpiece it is today.

The early history of the Sussex Stakes is, to say the least, inauspicious as between the first running in 1841 and the 1877 renewal there were 14 walkovers and on 11 occasions it wasn't run at all.

The race had been confined to two-year-olds but from 1878 they were excluded when the conditions were changed so that only three-year-olds could compete with Clocher becoming the first of the classic generation to take the spoils.

Notable winners during this period include Paradox (1885) who had finished second to Melton in the Derby; Orme (1892) who was poisoned before the 2000 Guineas but recovered to win the Eclipse and Sussex Stakes; Minrou (1909) who also won the 2000 Guineas and Derby that season for his owner Edward VII; and the 2000 Guineas-winners My Babu (1948) and Palestine (1950).

Quorum, who had been second to Crepello in the 2000 Guineas obliged in 1957. The grey went on to sire the three-time Grand National-winner Red Rum

In 1959 1000 Guineas and Oaks-winner Petite Etoile was the last victor before the race was reframed again. This time the change meant four-year-olds were allowed to compete as well. Two years later Le Levanstell (1961) became the first four-year-old on the roll of honour. By and large the three-year-olds still dominated proceedings in the form of horses like 1000 Guineas-winner Humble Duty (1970) and superstar Brigadier Gerard (1971).

The most recent amendment to the conditions came in 1975 when the race was opened up to all older horses. The six-year-old Noalcoholic (1983) was the first to succeed under the new regime and later Court Masterpiece (2006) was the same age. There have also been three five-year-olds winners Sayyedati (1995), Reel Buddy (2003) and Ramonti (2007).

Other winners of note include Bolkonski (1975) and Wollow (1976), both ridden by Frankie's father Gianfranco Dettori and owned by Carlo d'Alessio; Kris (1979), who apart from finishing second to Tap On Wood in the 2000 Guineas was unbeaten as a three-year-old; Sonic Lady (1986); Warning (1988); Zilzal (1989); Marling (1992); Giants Causeway (2000); and Rock Of Gibralter (2002).

There were no races between 1915-1918 and 1942-1945 or in 1940. The 1942 renewal, won by Eastern Echo, was run at Newmarket.

25 years ago - Chief Singer prevailed despite the best, or should that be worst, efforts of Rousillon. Ron Sheather's charge was settled at the back by Ray Cochrane and made smooth progress on the rail to challenge Rousillon and Greenham-winner Creag-An-Sgor three furlongs from home. Greville Starkey, riding Rousillon, then started to close the door on Chief Singer but the son of Ballad Rock got through anyway despite the buffeting he received winning by a half a length with a yawning seven back to Creag-An-Sgor who was third past the post. Inevitably the Stewards intervened with Starkey being found guilty of reckless riding with his mount being disqualified. Rousillon though gained some compensation when winning the following year.

10 years ago - a first win in the race for Godolphin as Aljabr made all. The son of Storm Cat's winning run had come to an end when he had finished a creditable second to Sendawar in the St James's Palace Stakes but at Goodwood he picked up the winning thread again making all under Frankie Dettori to win at 11/10 favourite. Docksider put in a game challenge at the two pole but Aljabr ran on strongly all the way to the line to win by a length with a further five back to Almushtarak in third.

Five years ago - James Fanshawe's Soviet Song landed the sixth victory of her career squeezing through to lead just before the furlong post and holding the late surge of Nayyir who got to within a neck at the line. La Vie Dei Colori was two lengths further back in third with the same distance to fourth-placed Norse Dancer. 2000 Guineas-winner Haafhd and favourite Refuse To Bend were two of several who were badly hampered in incidents in the last two furlongs however it would be difficult to argue that the best horse, or in this case filly, didn't win on the day. Soviet Song had been a game runner-up to Proclamation the year before when she had found trouble in running (pictured above).

Last year - 2000 Guineas-winner Henrythenavigator got the better of Raven's Pass for the last time. The pairing had finished first and second in the St James's Palace Stakes with Aidan O'Brien's charge winning by three parts of a length. That margin was down to a head at Goodwood as Raven's Pass closed all through the final furlong but never looked as though he would quite get there. The pair pulled over three lengths clear of the rest of the field with Major Cadeaux and Winker Watson taking third and fourth. In the subsequent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic Henrythenavigator had to settle for second behind John Gosden's son of Elusive Quality.

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