The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 Flat race run over one mile at Goodwood Racecourse during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Open to horses aged three and older, it provides one of the first major mid-season opportunities for the leading three-year-old milers to race established older horses over a mile.
The race has been won by some of the best milers in modern racing, including Brigadier Gerard, Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar, Frankel, Kingman, Baaeed and Paddington.
Frankel became the first horse to win the Sussex Stakes twice when successful in 2011 and 2012.
From 2026, the Sussex Stakes carries a prize fund of £1.2 million, making it Europe’s richest one-mile Flat race.
The race forms one of three Group 1 contests at Glorious Goodwood, alongside the Goodwood Cup and Nassau Stakes.
Sussex Stakes at a Glance
Racecourse: Goodwood
Meeting: Qatar Goodwood Festival, traditionally known as Glorious Goodwood
Race day: Wednesday
Distance: 1 mile
Race type: Flat
Grade: Group 1
Age: Three-year-olds and older
2026 prize fund: £1.2 million
2026 date: Wednesday 29 July
Notable dual winner: Frankel
Leading trainer: Sir Henry Cecil, seven wins
Leading jockey: Sir Gordon Richards, eight wins
For more information about the venue itself, including its unusual configuration, see our complete Goodwood Racecourse guide.
When Is the Sussex Stakes?
The Sussex Stakes is held during the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival in late July or early August.
It traditionally takes place on Wednesday, the second day of Glorious Goodwood.
The 2026 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes was staged on Wednesday 29 July.
The wider 2026 festival ran from Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August.
Our horse racing festivals hub covers the other major British and Irish racing festivals throughout the year.
Where Is the Sussex Stakes Run?
The Sussex Stakes takes place at Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex.
Goodwood is a right-handed, undulating Flat course.
The track is very different from the straight mile used for races such as the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.
That matters when comparing form.
A horse can prove itself an outstanding miler on a straight course but face a different tactical test at Goodwood.
Positioning, balance and the ability to negotiate the course efficiently can become important.
How Is the Goodwood Mile Different?
The Goodwood mile is not a simple straight test of speed.
The course’s bends and gradients create tactical considerations that are less significant on a straight mile.
Goodwood can favour horses capable of travelling smoothly and holding a useful position.
A hold-up horse that becomes trapped behind rivals can find itself running out of room or time when the pace increases.
This does not mean front-runners automatically have an advantage.
A strong early pace can favour horses racing farther back.
The important question is how the individual Sussex Stakes is likely to develop.
Before assessing the runners, consider where the early pace will come from and which horses are likely to secure their preferred racing positions.
Our horse racing pace bias guide explains how running style can influence a race, while pace maps can help anticipate where the early speed is likely to come from.
Does the Draw Matter in the Sussex Stakes?
The draw deserves consideration, but it should not dominate Sussex Stakes analysis.
Goodwood’s configuration means a horse drawn wider can potentially cover more ground if unable to obtain a suitable position.
Field size changes the importance of this.
The Sussex Stakes has frequently attracted relatively compact Group 1 fields, reducing some of the problems associated with a wide stall in a large handicap.
Running style also matters.
A horse with sufficient tactical speed to obtain a good position can overcome a stall that initially appears less favourable.
A slowly away horse can waste an apparently good draw.
The correct approach is to combine:
- Stall Position
- Field Size
- Running Style
- Expected Pace
- Going
- Course Configuration
Our detailed horse racing draw guide explains why draw and pace should be considered together.
Sussex Stakes History
The Sussex Stakes has changed considerably since its early years.
The race was first staged in 1841 as a six-furlong event for two-year-olds.
It was later discontinued before returning in 1878 as a one-mile race for three-year-olds.
Four-year-olds became eligible in 1960, and the age conditions were subsequently expanded further.
The modern Sussex Stakes is open to horses aged three and older.
This structure is central to the race’s importance.
The best three-year-old milers emerge from the spring Classics and Royal Ascot before being given an opportunity to face established older horses at Goodwood.
That clash between generations has produced many of the race’s most memorable contests.
Why Is the Sussex Stakes Important?
The Sussex Stakes sits at an important point in the European mile programme.
By late July, the leading three-year-old milers have usually had opportunities to contest races such as the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
Older horses have races such as the Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes available earlier in the season.
Goodwood can bring those separate strands of form together.
A three-year-old receives a weight allowance from older horses under the race’s weight-for-age conditions.
That creates an additional analytical question.
Is the younger horse already good enough to compete with the established older milers?
The Sussex Stakes can provide the answer.
Sussex Stakes and the 2,000 Guineas
The 2,000 Guineas is one of the most important early-season races for horses that later contest the Sussex Stakes.
It is the opening British Classic of the season for colts and fillies and is run over Newmarket’s straight Rowley Mile.
The Sussex Stakes presents a very different course test.
A horse that excels at Newmarket needs to prove it can transfer that ability to Goodwood’s turning and undulating mile.
Several outstanding three-year-olds have done exactly that.
Rock Of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator, Frankel and Gleneagles are among the horses whose three-year-old campaigns established them among the leading milers of their generation.
The Irish and French Guineas can also provide important form.
The Sussex Stakes therefore has an international dimension even before runners from outside Britain and Ireland are considered.
Royal Ascot Form and the Sussex Stakes
Royal Ascot provides two particularly important mile races before Goodwood.
The St James’s Palace Stakes is restricted to three-year-old colts and traditionally attracts leading Guineas horses.
The Queen Anne Stakes is one of the principal early-season targets for older milers.
The Sussex Stakes then allows those generations to meet.
This makes Royal Ascot form highly relevant, but the different courses still need to be considered.
The Queen Anne uses Ascot’s straight mile.
The St James’s Palace uses the round course.
Goodwood presents another distinct test.
Do not assume that finishing positions at Ascot will automatically be repeated at Goodwood.
Famous Sussex Stakes Winners
The Sussex Stakes roll of honour contains horses from several generations of British and European racing.
Brigadier Gerard
Brigadier Gerard won the Sussex Stakes in 1971 during a career in which he lost only once in 18 starts.
His victories also included the 2,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
His versatility stretched considerably beyond a mile, but he remains one of the great names associated with the Sussex Stakes.
Giant’s Causeway
Giant’s Causeway won for Aidan O’Brien in 2000.
Nicknamed the Iron Horse, he became renowned for a series of close finishes during a demanding three-year-old campaign.
His Goodwood victory formed part of a run of five consecutive Group 1 successes.
Rock Of Gibraltar
Rock Of Gibraltar won the Sussex Stakes in 2002.
His victory came during a sequence of seven consecutive Group 1 wins.
He had already won the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes before arriving at Goodwood.
Frankel
Frankel’s association with the Sussex Stakes is unique.
His 2011 meeting with Canford Cliffs was promoted as the Duel on the Downs.
Canford Cliffs arrived as an established older champion with five consecutive Group 1 victories.
Frankel was still a three-year-old.
The anticipated close contest never developed.
Frankel defeated Canford Cliffs decisively.
He returned to Goodwood in 2012 and won the race for a second time, becoming the first dual Sussex Stakes winner.
Frankel retired later that year unbeaten after 14 starts.
Kingman
Kingman won in 2014 after establishing himself as the leading three-year-old miler of his season.
He had previously won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
His Goodwood victory reinforced the significance of Royal Ascot form when assessing the Sussex Stakes.
Baaeed
Baaeed won the Sussex Stakes in 2022.
He arrived unbeaten and started at very short odds before extending his perfect record.
His success continued a sequence of victories that established him as one of the leading racehorses of his generation.
Paddington
Paddington won in 2023 during an intensive three-year-old campaign for Aidan O’Brien.
His previous victories that season included the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
His route again demonstrated the connection between the spring Classics, Royal Ascot and Goodwood.
The Duel on the Downs
The 2011 Sussex Stakes remains one of the race’s defining modern renewals.
Frankel arrived unbeaten after victories in the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
Canford Cliffs represented the older generation.
He had won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes as a three-year-old before returning at four to win the Lockinge and Queen Anne Stakes.
The race therefore produced exactly the type of generational clash that makes the Sussex Stakes important.
Frankel won decisively.
Canford Cliffs was subsequently retired after an injury was discovered.
Frankel returned the following year and won the Sussex Stakes again.
Sussex Stakes Previous Winners
Recent Sussex Stakes winners include:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Toronado | 3 | Richard Hughes | Richard Hannon Sr |
| 2014 | Kingman | 3 | James Doyle | John Gosden |
| 2015 | Solow | 5 | Maxime Guyon | Freddy Head |
| 2016 | The Gurkha | 3 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
| 2017 | Here Comes When | 7 | Jim Crowley | Andrew Balding |
| 2018 | Lightning Spear | 7 | Oisin Murphy | David Simcock |
| 2019 | Too Darn Hot | 3 | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden |
| 2020 | Mohaather | 4 | Jim Crowley | Marcus Tregoning |
| 2021 | Alcohol Free | 3 | Oisin Murphy | Andrew Balding |
| 2022 | Baaeed | 4 | Jim Crowley | William Haggas |
| 2023 | Paddington | 3 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
| 2024 | Notable Speech | 3 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby |
| 2025 | Qirat | 4 | Richard Kingscote | Ralph Beckett |
The table is more useful as a historical record than as a mechanical betting system.
Racing changes, and a sample of previous winners should not be used to create rigid rules for future renewals.
Qirat’s 2025 Sussex Stakes Win
Qirat produced a major upset when winning the Sussex Stakes in 2025 for trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Richard Kingscote.
The result is a useful reminder of the limitations of simple favourite-based trends.
Older versions of Sussex Stakes analysis often emphasised the strong historical record of favourites.
That information can describe what happened during a particular period, but it does not mean the favourite in the next Sussex Stakes is automatically value.
Every renewal should be assessed independently.
The quality of the field, likely pace, course suitability and available odds matter more than an old favourite strike rate.
Sussex Stakes Trends
Trends can help identify the type of horse that has historically performed well, but we would not use them as automatic selection rules.
The strongest recurring characteristics are logical rather than statistical coincidences.
Proven Mile Form
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 mile race.
Most winners have already demonstrated high-level ability over or around a mile.
A horse stepping into this company needs enough speed to hold its position and enough stamina to finish strongly.
Group-Race Class
This is one of Europe’s major mile races.
Previous performance in Group company therefore carries much more weight than a superficial trend such as stall number or the last digit of a horse’s age.
Strong Royal Ascot or Classic Form
The spring Classics and Royal Ascot naturally provide important evidence because they contain many of the horses likely to contest the Sussex Stakes.
Course Suitability
Goodwood is distinctive enough for course suitability to matter.
Previous Goodwood form is useful evidence, particularly when a horse has shown that it handles the bends and gradients.
Our explanation of course and distance form covers how much weight to give previous track success.
Three-Year-Olds Versus Older Horses
The clash between three-year-olds and older horses is one of the Sussex Stakes’ central themes.
Younger horses receive a weight allowance.
That reflects the fact that three-year-olds are still developing physically.
But the allowance should not be treated as an automatic advantage.
Older horses can arrive with substantially more experience and proven Group 1 form.
The correct question is whether the younger horse’s improving form and weight allowance are enough to bridge any established difference in ability.
This is one reason the Sussex Stakes can be particularly informative.
It puts the Classic generation against horses whose level has already been tested in open-age races.
Fillies and Mares in the Sussex Stakes
Fillies and mares can contest the Sussex Stakes, although they have historically been less common than colts, geldings and entire older horses.
Notable female winners include Sayyedati in 1995 and Soviet Song in 2004.
A filly or mare should not be discounted simply because relatively few have won the race.
The more important questions are whether she has the required Group 1 ability, whether the mile suits and whether Goodwood’s configuration is appropriate.
Top Sussex Stakes Trainers
Sir Henry Cecil holds the historic training record with seven Sussex Stakes victories.
His winners included Bolkonski in 1975 and, decades later, Frankel in 2011 and 2012.
That span illustrates Cecil’s extraordinary longevity at the top level.
Aidan O’Brien has also built a major Sussex Stakes record.
His winners have included Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator, Rip Van Winkle and The Gurkha.
Trainer records provide useful historical context, but they should not determine a current bet.
Assess the individual horse first.
Top Sussex Stakes Jockeys
Sir Gordon Richards holds the historic riding record with eight Sussex Stakes wins.
Lester Piggott won the race six times.
Frankie Dettori recorded his fifth Sussex Stakes victory aboard Too Darn Hot in 2019.
Modern jockey statistics should be treated in context.
A rider with an outstanding record in a major Group 1 is also likely to have ridden many of its strongest horses.
The horse’s ability remains the primary consideration.
How to Analyse the Sussex Stakes
Start with the quality of the horses rather than searching for a trend that eliminates most of the field.
We assess:
- Group 1 And Group 2 Form
- Mile Form
- Recent Performance
- Strength Of Opposition
- Goodwood Experience
- Expected Pace
- Draw
- Going
- Weight-For-Age Allowance
- Current Price
The relationship between these factors matters.
For example, a hold-up horse can have outstanding form but still face a tactical problem if the race contains little early pace.
A three-year-old may have slightly lower ratings than an older rival but receive a weight allowance and still be improving.
Our guide to analysing a horse race like a professional explains how to bring different pieces of evidence together.
Reading Sussex Stakes Form
Bare finishing positions rarely tell the complete story.
Consider the quality of each previous race.
A horse finishing third in a strong Group 1 can have achieved more than a horse winning a weak Group 3.
Look at:
- Race Class
- Distance
- Going
- Course
- Pace
- Margin
- Opposition
- Weight
- How The Horse Travelled
Our horse racing form guide explains how to interpret the information rather than simply reading the recent finishing figures.
Going in the Sussex Stakes
Goodwood’s ground conditions can vary significantly from one year to another.
Here Comes When’s 2017 victory on heavy ground is a good example of why going cannot be ignored.
A horse’s overall rating tells us about its ability.
It does not guarantee that the horse will reproduce its best form on unsuitable ground.
Check previous performances under comparable conditions and consider whether the horse’s action and racing style suit the surface.
Our guide to the going in horse racing explains the main descriptions.
Sussex Stakes Racecards
The final racecard provides information that cannot be assessed properly months in advance.
Once declarations are confirmed, we can see the actual field, jockey bookings and draw.
The racecard should then be combined with recent form and likely tactics.
Our today’s racecards cover current racing, while tomorrow’s racecards can be used once the following day’s fields are available.
Sussex Stakes Betting
The Sussex Stakes attracts a strong ante-post market because the leading candidates often emerge from established mile races.
Royal Ascot can have a substantial effect on prices.
A convincing winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes or Queen Anne Stakes can move towards the head of the Goodwood market immediately.
Do not confuse being the most likely winner with being the best bet.
A horse with a 40% chance of winning would represent value at odds implying a 30% chance, but poor value at a price implying 50%.
That distinction is central to our approach to finding value in horse racing betting.
Sussex Stakes Odds
Sussex Stakes odds can change substantially between the ante-post market and raceday.
Factors influencing the price include:
- Royal Ascot Results
- Other Major Mile Races
- Confirmed Running Plans
- Final Declarations
- Going
- Jockey Bookings
- Market Support
Ante-post betting also carries additional risk because a horse that does not run will normally result in a losing bet unless the specific market terms say otherwise.
Understand the market before placing the bet.
Our main horse racing betting odds resource explains fractional prices and implied probability.
Comparing Sussex Stakes Prices
The same horse can be available at different prices with different bookmakers.
That difference directly affects long-term returns.
For example, taking 4/1 rather than 7/2 produces a larger return from the same winning stake.
Price comparison therefore matters even when you have already decided which horse you want to back.
Our horse racing betting sites comparison looks at bookmakers from a racing-specific perspective.
Mobile bettors can use our separate horse racing betting apps comparison.
Best Odds Guaranteed and the Sussex Stakes
Best Odds Guaranteed can become relevant if a runner’s price drifts before the race.
An eligible BOG bet generally pays the better of the qualifying price taken and the Starting Price if the horse wins, subject to the bookmaker’s individual rules.
Eligibility, start times and qualifying markets differ.
Check the actual terms rather than assuming every bet receives BOG.
Our Best Odds Guaranteed page explains how it works.
Sussex Stakes Betting Tips
Selections should be based on the current field rather than historic trends alone.
Once declarations are available, pay particular attention to pace and the likely tactical shape.
Goodwood’s configuration means a horse with an obvious positional advantage can be more interesting than raw ratings initially suggest.
Current selections for racing at the track are published through our Goodwood betting tips page.
Our wider free horse racing tips cover the day’s other meetings.
What Comes After the Sussex Stakes?
The Sussex Stakes is an important championship race, but the mile season continues.
Leading horses can subsequently target major races in Britain, France and elsewhere.
One important British end-of-season target is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day.
The different course is significant again.
Goodwood uses a turning mile.
The QEII is contested on Ascot’s straight course.
Comparing horses across the season therefore requires an understanding of the different tests presented by each venue.
Other Major Races at Glorious Goodwood
The Sussex Stakes is only one part of the five-day Goodwood festival.
Other important races include the Goodwood Cup, Nassau Stakes, King George Stakes, Lennox Stakes, Gordon Stakes, Molecomb Stakes, Lillie Langtry Stakes, Thoroughbred Stakes and Stewards’ Cup.
These races cover very different divisions.
The Goodwood Cup tests leading stayers over two miles, the Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 for fillies and mares, the King George Stakes is a five-furlong sprint and the Stewards’ Cup is a major six-furlong handicap.
That variety is one reason the Glorious Goodwood Festival is such an important part of the British Flat season.
Sussex Stakes FAQs
What is the Sussex Stakes?
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 Flat race for horses aged three and older. It is run over one mile at Goodwood during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
When is the Sussex Stakes?
The race takes place on Wednesday, the second day of Glorious Goodwood. The 2026 Sussex Stakes was held on Wednesday 29 July.
Where is the Sussex Stakes held?
The Sussex Stakes is run at Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex.
How far is the Sussex Stakes?
The race is one mile, or approximately 1,600 metres.
Is the Sussex Stakes a Group 1?
Yes. The Sussex Stakes is one of Britain’s major Group 1 mile races.
How much was the Sussex Stakes worth in 2026?
The 2026 Sussex Stakes had a total prize fund of £1.2 million.
Why is the Sussex Stakes important?
It brings together leading three-year-old and older milers during the middle of the Flat season. It frequently connects form from the Guineas, Royal Ascot and other major European mile races.
Which horse has won the Sussex Stakes twice?
Frankel became the first dual winner when successful in 2011 and 2012.
Who is the leading Sussex Stakes trainer?
Sir Henry Cecil holds the historic record with seven victories.
Who is the leading Sussex Stakes jockey?
Sir Gordon Richards won the race eight times.
Did Frankel win the Sussex Stakes?
Yes. Frankel won in both 2011 and 2012.
What was the Duel on the Downs?
The Duel on the Downs was the name given to the 2011 Sussex Stakes clash between unbeaten three-year-old Frankel and leading older miler Canford Cliffs. Frankel won decisively.
Can three-year-olds run in the Sussex Stakes?
Yes. The race is open to horses aged three and older. Three-year-olds receive a weight allowance from older horses.
Can fillies run in the Sussex Stakes?
Yes. Fillies and mares can contest the Sussex Stakes. Previous female winners include Sayyedati and Soviet Song.
Does the draw matter in the Sussex Stakes?
The draw can affect positioning, but its significance depends on field size, pace, running style and going. It should be analysed alongside those factors rather than used as a standalone rule.
What are the main Sussex Stakes trial races?
Important form races include the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes. Other leading mile races can also provide relevant form.
Where can I find Sussex Stakes tips?
Our Goodwood betting tips page provides current analysis and selections when racing takes place at Goodwood.
Where can I find the Sussex Stakes racecard?
Use our today’s horse racing racecards when the race takes place or tomorrow’s racecards once the following day’s fields are available.
What other Group 1 races take place at Glorious Goodwood?
The Goodwood Cup and Nassau Stakes are the festival’s other Group 1 races.
Sussex Stakes Summary
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 mile race for horses aged three and older at Goodwood Racecourse.
It takes place on Wednesday during the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival and provides an important mid-season meeting point for the Classic generation and established older milers.
The race has a distinguished history.
Brigadier Gerard, Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar, Frankel, Kingman, Baaeed and Paddington are among its previous winners, while Frankel remains the only horse to have won it twice.
From 2026, prize money increased to £1.2 million, making the Sussex Stakes Europe’s richest one-mile Flat race.
Goodwood’s unusual course adds another layer to the contest. Position, pace and the ability to handle its bends and gradients can matter alongside Group 1 form and raw ability.
Use our Goodwood Racecourse guide for the track itself, Goodwood betting tips for current race analysis and the Glorious Goodwood hub for the complete five-day festival.
