Sussex Stakes Guide

Trainer - Eve Johnson Houghton

Jockey - Charles Bishop

The first runner of the Wednesday Group 1 is Accidental Agent and this five year old has been very frustrating this season, showing very little of his four year old self which was very progressive.

Last season he gave his trainer her first Group 1 win in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot but when set to defend his title he refused the race, not leaving the stalls.

Last time out he was slow out again and finished fourth in the Group 2 Summer Mile and big improvement is needed to see him go close in this one.

Trainer - David O'Meara

Jockey - Daniel Tudhope

One of the more progressive horses in the field is this seasons Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner at the royal meeting with Lord Glitters one to certainly keep an eye on.

The six year old gelding finished third in this contest last year and although it is a tougher race he looks a much better horse and with Tudhope on board anything is possible.

He might have to settle for the places but it would not be a surprise to see a big run from the versatile runner.

Trainer - Roger Varian

Jockey - Andrea Atzeni

Zabeel Prince keeps the trend going so far by being another Group 1 winner in the field and the six year old landed his first black type win this season over in france.

He scored nicely at Longchamp beating some smart horses that day but has not used that form since, finishing poorly in the Prince Of Wales's and Coral Eclipse.

Unless seriously bouncing back over this shorter trip he will be very opposable.

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Jockey - Donnacha O'Brien

The O'Brien team field two in this and I Can Fly looks to be the second string chance for the Ballydoyle outfit and it would a huge shock to see her win the contest.

She is the only filly in the field so she gets an allowance from the colts and geldings that are the same age or older but will be giving five pounds to younger horses.

This looks to much of a training miracle even for Aidan O'Brien from the way she has ran all season.

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Jockey - Ryan Moore

The number one runner for the yard and the St James's Palace Stakes winner at Royal Ascot looks to have a superb chance in this one with the rain falling being a massive positive.

He saw off many of this field in wet conditions last time out and now being supplemented for £70,000 for this one, there looks to be more at stake for the owners.

The drop to a mile was a stroke of genius last time out and now he has to do very much the same to go well in this one.

Trainer - Andrew Balding

Jockey - Silvestre De Sousa

This three year old is a very progressive colt but this race might have just come a bit to soon for him racing in Group 3 and Listed races prior to this and although to a fair standard, nothing that will match this field.

The falling rain is a big positive for him however, but it does look like he would need more than a career best to enter the frame in this one.

Trainer - Charles Hills

Jockey - Jamie Spencer

We seem to maybe saving the best runners until last and Phoenix Of Spain if finding his seasonal debut form has to be taken very seriously.

The three year old landed the Irish 2000 Guineas in great style at the Curragh but last time out was poor at Royal Ascot and without bouncing back here, he won't be in the frame.

He holds bundles of potential and is a slightly bigger price than what he should be, needing to reduce the form on two of these runners.

Trainer - John Goden

Jockey - Frankie Dettori

The bookmakers favourite to take the 2019 Group 1 Sussex Stakes is Too Darn Hot and off the back of his first winning black type of his three year old campaign he has to be at the top of the market.

Having had a very tough season already, missing the 2000 Guineas due to a setback and then not winning in the Dante at York on his road to the Epsom Derby, which was immediately halted.

All the way to again finishing up short in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, His win over in France in the Prix Jean Prat has got him back amongst the elite.

The mile division is still very much there for the taking but Gosden's champion 2yo will need to handle the extra furlong better than he has all season.