Glorious Goodwood takes centre stage this week, and Mullaad, potentially the best two-year-old in Ryedale, is set to journey to the five-day Sussex spectacular to put his reputation on the line.

The Tim Easterby-trained colt, winner of two of his three races, has a date in Friday's Richmond Stakes - a six furlong contest, which carries Group Two status, not to mention £70,000 in added prize money.

Mullaad got off the mark at Newcastle in May, but was temporarily sidelined with sore shins, which scuppered any chance he had of appearing at Royal Ascot at York last month.

Instead, the youngster was given plenty of time to recover and did not reappear until July 8, when he turned out at Chester to take on Amadeus Wolf, the Kevin Ryan-trained colt, who had finished third in the Coventry Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Amadeus Wolf was sent off as the odds-on favourite at Chester, but Mullaad came through late and fast to beat him by a neck, with a confident Dave Allan allowing him to coast across the line.

Mullaad, who had previously beaten Coventry Stakes runner-up Pacific Pride at Gosforth Park, is well rated by Easterby, who has the option of saddling him at York next month in the Gimcrack Stakes, a race his father Peter won with Sonnen Gold in 1979.

First things first, however, and an acid-test awaits Mullaad at Goodwood, where the step up from five furlongs to six, plus the likelihood of decent ground, will be very much in his favour. Easterby, whose horses are in excellent form and who was on the mark at York last weekend with Winged Collar, will be hoping for better luck than he enjoyed at Southwell earlier this week when juvenile Princess Cleo, a short-head winner, was controversially disqualified and placed second after a minor infringement.

Interestingly, Easterby could be represented in Saturday's Vodafone Stewards' Cup by Fayr Jag, a Group One winner last year at Royal Ascot.

The six-year-old has not won since that success in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and, with his handicap rating having consequently fallen, he is now qualified to contest major handicaps once more. A good effort at Newbury recently, when he finished a close-up fourth in Listed company, entitles him to plenty of respect on Saturday, though he would need the ground to dry out to produce his best.

Richard Fahey, successful in the 1998 Stewards' Cup with Superior Premium, may saddle as many as three runners in the latest renewal of this six furlongs dash.

"Fonthill Road and Philharmonic will definitely run, and I may also run Mutawaffer if there is enough give in the ground," said the Malton trainer, who, after yet another double at Southwell, is now just one winner shy of his seasonal half-century.

John Quinn has the Stewards' Cup option firmly in mind for Fantasy Believer, who failed by little more than a length in last year's renewal of this famous handicap after missing the break, meeting trouble in running and being drawn on the opposite side of the course to the winner.

Few, if any, could begrudge Fantasy Believer - also runner-up in last sason's Ayr Gold Cup - a major success. Likewise, few can argue that he is approaching this year's race in rude health. Although out of the money, he ran well in defeat last Saturday at York, a course which has never played to his strengths, and he had previously been beaten only a whisker in a hot handicap at Hamilton.

Frustratingly, Fantasy Believer is not currently guaranteed a definite place in the 29-strong line up and will require a handful of horses above him in the weights to come out in order to be certain of getting a run.

Quinn, fortunately, has another string to his bow in Caribbean Coral, who, although still seeking his first win of the campaign, has shaped well enough on a couple of occasions to suggest he remains capable of bagging a big prize.

One way or another, the Stewards' Cup promises to be thrilling fare, as indeed will the whole of the Goodwood fixture.

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Kevin Darley will be conspicuous by his absence at Goodwood, having failed in his appeal to overturn a 10-day ban, which he received courtesy of the stewards at Ayr after appearing to ease down momentarily and being beaten for third place.

The Sheriff Hutton rider, who understandably felt hard done by at receiving such a hefty penalty for such a minor offence - in a five-runner contest - will be back in action next Monday.

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Robert Winston hit the century trail in his own backyard on Knavesmire last Saturday.

The championship-chasing jockey, who lives at Osbaldwick, reached the milestone figure aboard Tora Petcha, trained by Reg Hollinshead, in the two-year-old maiden race

"Things are going great," said Winston, whose maiden century, achieved last season, was not gained until well into the autumn. "I'm well ahead of last year at the moment, and that's mainly down to all the support I've had from trainers and owners, and everyone else," added Winston.

Currently leading the championship table narrowly from Jamie Spencer, with Seb Sanders hot on their heels, Winston is trying not to think about the title race.

"I'm just focussed on riding as many winners as I can. It's still a bit too early to start predicting what might happen in the championship, but things should be starting to take more of a shape by end of August or early-September. The main thing is to stay injury-free, and also to stay out of the stewards' room, which I've managed to do so far this season."

Winston boosted his score to 101 at Pontefract on Sunday with a fine front-running ride on Zabeel Palace, trained at Newmarket by David Loder.

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If Mick Easterby required a further pick-me-up following his recent illness, he certainly got it at York last weekend when he completed a double at his favourite course with The History Man and Sporting Gesture.

The mount of Dale Gibson, The History Man fittingly did his stuff on Friday - Mick's first day at the races following a bout of pneumonia - but the Sheriff Hutton trainer was quick to hand any credit for this victory to his son, David.

"It was David's idea to run the horse in that particular race, so it's down to him that he's won," said Mick, adding, "I'm feeling a lot better again now, even more so after a winner."

Easterby did not have long to wait before re-entering the Knavesmire number-one slot. A day later, Sporting Gesture, given a copybook ride by stable apprentice Paul Mulrennan, landed the mile-and-a-half handicap, carrying the colours of Ryedale owner Steve Hull, who lives at Stonegrave, near Hovingham.

The annual Northern Open golf day, in aid of Racing Welfare (Stable Lads Welfare Trust), is taking on a new format this year, and is also to be held at a new venue.

After 21 years of being an individual tournament, this year it is a team event, to be staged at Ripon Golf Club. Organiser Raye Wilkinson is looking for teams of four to enter this hugely popular day, which is supported by all sections of the industry

Entry fee, to include the golf game and a meal afterwards, is £140 per team. Anyone interested in playing, should contact Raye on (01969) 624123.

Updated: 16:16 Wednesday, July 27, 2005