Dominant and Dordogne follow in Goodwood tracks of Derby heroes

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A year ago at Goodwood, those shrewdies who latched on to the promise of the youngster who won his maiden by six lengths were spot on, his name being Workforce. Interest in yesterday's running of the same seven-furlong contest was, therefore, all the keener and, although the Sir Michael Stoute stable did not have a representative this time, there were likely lads enough from other top Newmarket yards.

And although Dominant, trained by Michael Jarvis, did not scoot away from his rivals in the same eyecatching manner as his predecessor, there was plenty to like about his performance. The black colt is still green but, despite his callow racing technique on a tricky enough track for a newcomer, he knuckled down with a will in the closing stages to master the more experienced Riot Police (John Gosden) and the favourite Mariners Lodge (Godolphin) and win, going away, by a tidy length.

Dominant, whether or not he can follow Workforce to a Derby triumph, is well-regarded enough to have been given an entry for next month's Racing Post Trophy.

Anyone looking for a runaway victor to consider ahead of next year's Classics had little more than half an hour to wait as Dordogne, from Mark Johnston's Middleham fastness, put his rivals thoroughly to the sword in the nine-furlong maiden, again on his debut. Given a patient ride by Kieren Fallon, the Singspiel colt burst past the 4-7 favourite Sud Pacifique inside the final furlong to win by nearly five lengths. Seven years ago the equivalent race at the meeting went to another subsequent Epsom hero, North Light.

It will be no surprise if Dordogne, who races for Sheikh Mohammed's son Hamdan, has transferred to the Godolphin squad by next season. The Blues were on the mark in Sussex yesterday with Melbourne Cup candidate Holberg, who showed battling qualities that will stand him in good stead in Australia as he rallied to repel Pink Symphony by a short-head over 10 furlongs, a distance way short of his optimum.

Frankie Dettori, dictating the pace, wound up the gallop from fully half a mile out and, although the filly put her head in front for a stride or two close to home, Holberg's nose was ahead when it mattered.

The Godolphin team have come close in the past in the Melbourne Cup, with three seconds and a third, and the four-year-old and stablemate Campanologist will go into quarantine on Sunday. But one of Europe's stronger fancies for Australia's richest contest, the Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage, was ruled out yesterday by trainer Dermot Weld.

Turf account

Sue Montgomery's Nap

Herostatus (8.30 Wolverhampton) Both his pedigree and efforts to date indicate that he will be well suited by today's step up to a mile and a half.

Next best

Memory Lane (3.00 Pontefract) After three sighters on Kempton's all-weather has her first run on turf at a track where one of her half-brothers scored twice.

One to watch

Plan A (M G Quinlan) All but coped with a 6lb rise up the ratings at Hamilton on Sunday and would surely have done so had his rider got him into gear earlier.

Where the money's going

Frankel has been cut at the head of the 2,000 Guineas market, as short as 6-1 with Coral and Boylesports.

Chris McGrath's Nap

Satwa Laird (8.00 Wolverhampton)