THERE'S no getting away from Mark Johnston's dominance at Glorious Goodwood, where he has once again proved to be the punters' pal over the past couple of days, leading the trainer's table with three winners.

Never a man to rest on his laurels, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Johnston could double that impressive haul this afternoon via Marinas Charm (2.05), Zindabad (3.15), and Suzuka (5.35).

In terms of quality, Zindabad is the "big daddy" of the talented trio, bidding to add the Group 2 Goodwood Cup to a whole string of magnificent career victories, including Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes, plus the Yorkshire Cup.

"Zindabad has been a marvellous stable servant, he's due to be retired at the end of the season and I'd love to win this race with him," said Mark about his tough and genuine son of the former Epsom Derby hero, Shirley Heights.

As far as a betting proposition goes, Marinas Charm appeals most of all in the Stanley-sponsored Showcase Handicap over seven furlongs. She was sent to Dubai for the winter, though the plan flopped and it also had the effect of delaying her 2003 UK campaign.

But that isn't to say Marinas Charm cannot reproduce her useful juvenile form now that the filly is back on home shores, indeed her comeback effort at Haydock just eight days ago, when a close second, suggests she will be cherry-ripe to strike in the £45,000 opener.

Suzuka, who turns out for the closing mile-and-six-furlong Future Hope Charity Handicap, looked like a bit of a lost cause until springing a 14-1 shock first win at Thirsk last time out.

The crucial factor behind that success appeared to be the ease in the ground following torrential rain at the track during the preceding couple of hours. Conditions will not be dissimilar today and he should also be suited by the slightly longer trip.

Testing ground will also be the feature of a busy card at Newcastle, not that it will inconvenience Sharoura (4.00), who turned an almost identical contest into a procession when blitzing the opposition at Thirsk recently.

Nor should a bit of juice in the turf do any harm to the prospects of Grey Clouds (4.00), who ran her best race to date at Beverley last week.

Tried at a variety of trips by trainer Tim Easterby, the mile-and-a-quarter for the St James Security Fillies Handicap may ultimately turn out to be her optimum distance.

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