Stormy Antarctic needs rain for Sussex Stakes assignment
Ed Walker will be keeping an eye on the sky for his Group 2 winner
STORMY ANTARCTIC will need storms from on high if he is to take his chance in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.
The former Craven Stakes winner will only run at Glorious Goodwood if the ground is soft.
Trainer Ed Walker is keeping everything crossed that the heavens will open in time for his classy five-year-old at the end of the month.
The son of Stormy Atlantic has only ever produced his best form with a bit of cut in the ground, so connections will be hoping that conditions will be similar to last year’s renewal.
If he does take his chance, confidence will be high after three good runs this season, including wins in a Group 2 at Baden Baden and a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud as well as an admirable second in the bet365 Mile.
He will need to improve in order to land his first race at the top level, but if there’s rain in the air he will handle conditions much better than most.
His trainer said: “Stormy Antarctic is a legend. He is in great form but he really does deserve a big one.
“He is a Group Two, dual Group Three and Listed winner and is dual Group One-placed. He has about the most decorated CV you can get without having a Group One win to his name.
“After Germany we decided to pull the plug on him for a bit and it has been a good call with this hot weather we’ve had.
“We will freshen him up and he will be trained for the Sussex Stakes but hopefully it will come up as soft as it did last year.”
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As for other options on the table, Walker is looking further afield once again for his talented globetrotter.
He added: “If he doesn’t run there we will look at the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville as that is 1 million euro this year and he also qualifies for French premiums.
“He will have a day out in one of those races, then we will probably start looking at races in North America later on.”