The five fastest Sussex Stakes winners
The standout mile race of the Goodwood Festival meeting, there have been some gloriously quick winners of the Sussex Stakes over the years.
5. Sayyedati (1995 - time 1.36.17)
The Clive Brittain-trained mare Sayyedati was a beneficiary of the Sussex Stakes being opened to horses aged five or older in 1975.
Sayyedati was a relatively long in the tooth five when she took on the mile race at Glorious Goodwood after picking up the 1000 Guineas in 1993.
Indeed, the Shadeed mare came second in the '93 running of the Sussex Stakes but then went the whole of 1994 winless, so faced a real challenge in the 1995 edition.
It was a strong training performance from Brittain on a horse that wouldn't win again.
But Sayyedati had saved her best for the Sussex Stakes, posting a smart time of 1.36.17, the fifth fastest in the race's history since it switched to a mile.
1995 Sussex Stakes - Sayyedati #sayyedati pic.twitter.com/ifdlK9DVfK
— History of Horse Racing (@roar1968) February 13, 2021
4. Court Masterpiece (2006 - 1.36.10)
On this day in 2006, Court Masterpiece defeated Soviet Song by 2L to win the Sussex Stakes at #GloriousGoodwood for @EdDunlopRacing #QGF pic.twitter.com/xvqUHPbfWx
— PA Racing (@PAracing) August 2, 2017
3. Distant Relative (1990 - 1.36.06)
The well-bred Distant Relative was sired by the Lockinge Stakes winning American bred Habitat so his ability over a mile came naturally.
1990 Sussex Stakes - Distant Relative #distantrelative pic.twitter.com/GH9ejGXnNv
— History of Horse Racing (@roar1968) July 14, 2021
2. Distant View (1994 - 1:35.71)
1. Aljabr (1999 - 1:35.66)
The Storm Cat colt flashed home under Frankie Dettori in the Godolphin silks, leaving his opposition feeling blue.
1999 Sussex Stakes - Aljabr #aljabr pic.twitter.com/wvmsgMaXib
— History of Horse Racing (@roar1968) May 10, 2021