Newmarket trainer James Owen eyes Stewards’ Cup victory with two runners

By Eleanor Vance — 31 July 2026 — 4 min read

Owen’s Strong Form Ahead of Stewards’ Cup

James Owen, a Newmarket-based trainer, is set to field two horses in the upcoming Coral Stewards’ Cup. This marks his first time having runners in the race, which is a highlight of Glorious Goodwood’s final day. Owen has been in strong form recently, with 18 winners in the last fortnight at a strike-rate of 36 per cent before Friday’s races.

Owen’s career has seen a rapid ascent in the Flat racing world. After sending out his first three Flat runners in 2023, he recorded 117 Flat winners last year. He also had 83 winners in the 2025-26 jumps season. Prior to his success in Flat racing, Owen was known for his work with Arabian horses and point-to-pointers.

Stewards’ Cup Contenders and History

The Stewards’ Cup, a historic handicap race dating back to 1839, is known for requiring horses with a strong performance history. The 2021 winner, Commanche Falls, achieved a rare feat by successfully defending his title the following season. He was the first horse since Sky Diver in the 1960s to win back-to-back renewals, and one of only six horses to win the race twice in its nearly 200-year history.

Last year’s winner, Two Tribes, had a BHA mark of 95 and performed well from 8 lb higher in his subsequent start. He later won in Meydan from a mark of 102 during the winter, suggesting he could remain competitive from the same mark this year. The 2024 winner, Get It, won from a mark of 98 and then secured the Wokingham from 2lb higher the following summer, making his seasonal reappearance in this race.

Among the horses in focus for this year’s race are Far Above Dream, who finished fourth in the Wokingham and has a perfect 3/3 record at the track, racing off the same mark. Berkshire Whisper also caught attention after an unlucky run at Newbury in May. Annaf, a proven Group winner, leads Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings. He is 7lb lower than when he finished 12th in this race 12 months ago, having caught the eye in recent defeats behind Tuco Salamanca and Dubai Bling.

Other Notable Races at Goodwood

The Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes is also expected to be a competitive race, featuring last year’s top three finishers. Waardah and Danielle, both of whom have not run in the last couple of months, are expected to be fresh for this event. However, historical statistics suggest that 10 of the last 12 winners of this race had competed in the preceding five weeks, which could make them vulnerable.

Waardah’s second-place finish to Estrange in a re-routed Group 3 at Carlisle was subsequently boosted by Estrange’s Pretty Polly win. Danielle has consistently been highly regarded at Clarehaven. Goodie Two Shoes, who tends to perform less well on soft ground, improved to finish second in the Melbourne Cup after placing third in this race 12 months ago, and showed good form with a second-place finish at Fairyhouse in early July. Consent, who won a French Group 1 after finishing behind Santorini Star in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September, could also be a strong contender.

The British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes has a history of producing notable winners. Past victors include Dee Ex Bee, who made a winning debut in 2017 before finishing second in the Derby the following spring, and Imperial Fighter (2021), who placed third in the Irish 2000 Guineas. The Foxes, from the same stable as Imperial Fighter, added three Group 2s to his record. This year’s race features strong contenders such as Charted Course and Al Wathba, who was second to Haffner on debut. Aidan O’Brien, who won the Richmond Stakes with Man’s Best Friend, saddles Speakers Corner, a Wootton Bassett colt who finished fourth on debut behind Porto Vecchio, and is expected to benefit from a stronger pace.

Other promising horses in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes include Leadlight, trained by Joseph O’Brien, along with Rafe’s Da Man, Market Leader, Walkin On The Moon, and Regency Royal, trained by Andrew Balding.

Source: racingpost.com