Pearl slopes past Sussex

The Guineas winners, Pennekamp and Ridgewood Pearl, were the most notable absentees at yesterday's forfeit stage for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in three weeks time.

While Pennekamp is side-lined by the injury he picked up in the Derby, the absence of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, Ridgewood Pearl, is due to a belief by her trainer, John Oxx, Tthat the filly will not be suited by the downhill gradients of the Sussex course.

Paul Cole has earmarked the race as a target for Sri Pekan, who has not run since he landed the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last September.

Medaille Militaire, the big gamble of Royal Ascot, has been installed as favourite for the Schweppes Golden Mile at Goodwood on 27 July at odds as low as 6-1.

But a stable spokesman said: "The horse is a possible, rather than a probable runner as Goodwood may not be the ideal track for him. Plans are for him to run at Newmarket next Thursday and take it from there."