Any last fragment of argument that the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood (formerly the Predominate Stakes) was in any way a trial for the Epsom Derby has been finally crushed after the 2013 running of the race.
The calendar was already against the race with the Derby falling on the very first day of June this year, its earliest possible date. With only a little over a week between the Cocked Hat and the Derby it was already unlikely that any contender would take in both races.
But this year’s race attracted only three runners and when Fantastic Moon was declared a non-runner it left the Listed race with a match between two horses, battling it out for first place prize money of £22,600.
The race itself was a good duel with Sir Henry Cecil’s Disclaimer coming out on top but it is a shame that more runners were not attracted to contest it.
The race seems to have rather lost its place in the calendar, which is a shame because it is a contest over 1 mile 3 furlongs on a track with a bend and a hill to be negotiated, not unlike Epsom, albeit in the opposite direction. It could be a good test of potential for any Derby horse.
