He showed some promise as a two-year-old, winning two minor races, but missed the second half of the year after running poorly in the Coventry Stakes.
In the following year he competed in handicaps and minor stakes before emerging as a top class performer with a second place in the Prix Maurice de Gheest followed by his win in the Spring Cup.
Goodricke was a bay horse with a small white star[2] bred by the Newmarket based Red House Stud.
[5] In October 2003 the yearling colt was offered for sale at Tattersalls and was bought for 110,000 guineas by the bloodstock agent Richard O'Gorman[6] on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.
Ridden by Tom Queally, and starting the 4/5 favourite, he took the lead approaching the final furlong and went clear of his rivals to win by three lengths.
[11] On 23 July Goodricke was matched against older horses in a valuable seven furlong handicap at Newbury in which he was assigned a weight of 119 pounds.
The colt was then stepped up sharply in class when he was sent to France for the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300 metres at Deauville Racecourse.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier and starting a 20/1 outsider he appeared to be struggling in the early stages but made steady progress in the straight to finish second, half a length behind the favourite Whipper.
[12] On 3 September Goodricke started a 14/1 outsider for the Group One William Hill Sprint Cup over six furlongs at Haydock Park.