Owen’s Strong Form Ahead of Stewards’ Cup
James Owen, a Newmarket-based trainer, is set to field two horses in the upcoming Coral Stewards’ Cup. This marks his first time having runners in the race, which is a highlight of Glorious Goodwood’s final day. Owen has been in strong form recently, having recorded 18 winners in the last fortnight with a strike-rate of 36 per cent before Friday’s racing.
Owen’s career has seen a rapid ascent in flat racing. He sent out his first three flat runners in 2023 and went on to saddle 117 flat winners last year. Prior to his success in flat racing, Owen was known for his work with Arabian horses and point-to-pointers. He also achieved 83 winners in the 2025-26 jumps season.
Stewards’ Cup Contenders and History
The Stewards’ Cup, a historic handicap race, has been run for nearly 200 years since its inception in 1839. Winning the race often requires a horse to be well-handicapped. For example, last year’s winner, Two Tribes, had a BHA mark of 95 and later won in Meydan from a mark of 102. The 2024 winner, Get It, won from a mark of 98 and subsequently landed the Wokingham from 2lb higher.
One notable past winner is Commanche Falls, who achieved a rare feat by successfully defending his title in 2021, becoming the first horse since Sky Diver in the 1960s to win back-to-back renewals. He is one of only six horses to have won the race twice.
Among the horses in focus for this year’s race are Far Above Dream, who has a perfect record of 3/3 at the track and can race off the same mark, and Berkshire Whisper, who showed promise at Newbury in May. Annaf, a proven Group winner, tops Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings. He is 7lb lower than when he finished 12th in the race 12 months ago, following recent defeats behind Tuco Salamanca and Dubai Bling.
Other Races at Goodwood
The Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes is also anticipated, featuring last year’s top three finishers. Waardah and Danielle, both targeted at this race, have not run in the last couple of months. Historically, 10 of the last 12 winners of this race had competed in the preceding five weeks, which could make their freshness a factor. Waardah’s second-place finish to Estrange at Carlisle was subsequently franked by Estrange’s Pretty Polly win.
Goodie Two Shoes, who was second in the Melbourne Cup on her next start after finishing third 12 months ago, showed good form when second at Fairyhouse in early July. Consent, who won a French Group 1 after competing in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September, could also be a contender. With only 2lb separating the top four horses, Goodie Two Shoes is considered a potential value bet.
The British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes has historically produced notable winners. Dee Ex Bee made a winning debut in 2017 before finishing second in the Derby the following spring. Imperial Fighter was third in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2021, and The Foxes added three Group 2s to his record. This year’s race includes Charted Course, who performed well in the Windsor Castle, and Al Wathba, who was second on debut at HQ.
Aidan O’Brien, who won the Richmond Stakes with Man’s Best Friend, saddles Speakers Corner, a Wootton Bassett colt who finished fourth on debut. Other promising horses in the race include Leadlight, trained by Joseph O’Brien, as well as Rafe’s Da Man, Market Leader, Walkin On The Moon, and Regency Royal, trained by Andrew Balding.
Source: racingpost.com
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
