MARK JOHNSTON, currently on the 99-winner mark for the season, is poised to make history at Goodwood today by racking up his tenth domestic century in a row with Lucky Story (2.40) in the Group 2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.
Johnston, who in 2002 equalled Henry Cecil's landmark of nine straight centuries achieved between 1984 and 1992, has long been odds-on to claim the record outright and there would be no more fitting place than Goodwood where he has enjoyed so much success in the past.
Lucky Story, a massive colt with the scope to go right to the top, powered to an impressive six length win at Pontefract last time out on a rain-softened surface, not unlike the one he will encounter at the Sussex track this afternoon.
None of his nine opponents are proven under such testing conditions and Love Story's proven stamina should ensure victory in the £70,000 seven furlong contest, albeit at rather cramped odds.
Having scooped last Saturday's King George at Ascot courtesy of Alamshar, the Aga Khan and his retained jockey Johnny Murtagh bid to complete a quick-fire Group 1 double with Kalaman (3.15) in the £285,000 Sussex Stakes.
By virtue of his earlier Irish Derby success Alamshar is now rated Europe's leading three-year-old 12-furlong performer and if Kalaman wins he could be elevated to the same position in the one mile rankings for his famous owner.
In honour of the fact that Zuhair has won the finale for the last four years on the bounce the course executive have graciously named the race after the David Nicholls-trained speedster.
It would great to think Zuhair might make it five by winning his "own" race, however I believe the party-pooper could well turn out to be the Michael Dods' raider, Aahgowangowan (5.35), well drawn in stall two together with easy ground to suit.
Leave the nap to Jeepstar (7.45), sent down to Leicester by Tim Easterby for the £10,000 Taylor Estate Agents Handicaps.
Jeepstar has the classic profile of a late-developer and the lightly campaigned selection might just be about to come into his own over this new longer trip.
l Robert Winston had to give up his rides at Beverley after being stood down by the racecourse doctor before the first race.
Three of Winston's intended mounts had been withdrawn because of unsuitable ground conditions, but he had been due to partner Jade Forest in the opener, Bond Millennium and Marshall Bond for Bryan Smart.
Fergal Lynch was fined £130 for failing to arrive to ride Handshake, who finished 10th in the opener.
The stewards imposed the penalty because they had not received any explanation from Lynch, who was fined a similar amount on Saturday for allowing ''insufficient time'' to travel from Redcar to Newcastle.
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