Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Illinois expected to thrive over Goodwood Cup trip

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Illinois and Scandinavia give Aidan O’Brien a strong hand in his bid for a fifth victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.

The Ballydoyle handler saddled the brilliant Yeats to land the Group One contest in both 2006 and 2008, a feat repeated by his latest superstar stayer Kyprios, who struck gold in 2022 before regaining his crown 12 months ago.

Following the latter’s retirement, Illinois was drafted into the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and performed admirably to finish best of the rest behind the front-running Trawlerman – and with the latter not in attendance, the four-year-old is favourite to go one better on the Sussex Downs.

O’Brien said: “He ran well in the Gold Cup and we’re looking forward to this, obviously it’s a shorter trip than Ascot.

“We thought this would be a nice third race back for him this year and we’ve been very happy with him since Ascot.”

Connections have a major second string to their bow in the form of Scandinavia, a dominant winner of the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket three weeks ago and as the sole three-year-old in the field, he is in receipt of a stone in weight from Illinois and the rest of his rivals.

“He was good in Newmarket and he seems in good form. Obviously he’s only a baby, but he liked the extra distance in Newmarket the last day and seems to have come out of the race well,” O’Brien added.

Sweet William won the Summer Handicap in 2023
Sweet William won the Summer Handicap at Goodwood in 2023 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Despite deciding against running Trawlerman, John and Thady Gosden are well represented, with Gold Cup fourth Sweet William joined by French Master and Military Academy.

French Master claimed his fourth win from six career starts in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting and now tests the water over two miles on a track where he has been successful before.

John Gosden said: “Sweet William has been in very good form. He broke well in the Gold Cup, it was a tough race and in the end the two and a half (miles) was a little too far for him – he’s a two-mile to two-and-a-quarter-mile horse, but he ran a brave race.

“He’s in very good form and he knows Goodwood well, so back we go again.”

French Master will dip his toe in Group company for the first time
French Master will dip his toe in Group company for the first time (John Walton/PA)

Of French Master, the trainer added: “I think he’s a horse who will rise to the occasion. He won in good style (at Royal Ascot), but he’s going from a handicap to a completely open Group One.

“We’re hopeful he’ll run a good race and we’re very much looking forward to running him and seeing the jump in class. If he doesn’t handle it, we can regroup.”

Saeed bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor (John Walton/PA)

Another who appears better suited to the drop in trip will be Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future, who split Illinois and Sweet William when third in the Gold Cup.

Bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future worked well on Thursday and heads to Goodwood in good order.

“He ran a good race in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but two miles suits him better, as he showed in the Dubai Gold Cup.

“He has done very well this year and I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”

Kinross primed for another Lennox tussle at Goodwood

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It is hard to imagine the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes without Kinross and Ralph Beckett’s evergreen stalwart is back in search of a third victory at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The popular eight-year-old has been a standing dish in this contest on the Sussex Downs, taking home the first prize in 2021 and 2023.

After showing no signs of decline when reappearing with a narrow defeat in Haydock’s John of Gaunt Stakes, he now makes his fifth appearance in Tuesday’s Group Two event, looking to better last year’s third.

“He’s been great since Haydock,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owner Marc Chan.

“I would say it’s as competitive as any other Lennox he has run in, that’s for sure. It’s a very open race, but we go there in good shape.

“Every race is a bonus for him at this stage of his career, so fingers crossed he runs well.”

Andrew Balding struck with Sandrine in 2022 and attempts to repeat the dose with Jonquil, who returns to the distance over which he landed the Greenham Stakes after failing to figure down at six furlongs in the Commonwealth Cup.

Also bidding to bounce back to his best is John and Thady Gosden’s Audience, who took home the spoils impressively 12 months ago but has struggled to trouble the judge since.

Gosden said: “He hasn’t quite repeated last year’s run yet. We sent him down to Dubai, which might not have been the smartest move in the world, running him over six furlongs.

“He’s well in himself and happy. He enjoys the track and I think he’ll run a big race again.”

It was Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony who denied the aforementioned Kinross earlier in the season. He has been freshened up since that victory in Lancashire and his handler said: “Ten Bob Tony loves a bit of ease in the ground and goes well fresh.

“It was a huge performance to come back and beat Kinross at Haydock and he’s obviously a very talented horse.

“He’s a real yard favourite, he’s completely chilled, a real kind, straightforward horse to deal with.”

Walker in fact holds a strong hand in the seven-furlong event and will also saddle his Jersey Stakes scorer Noble Champion, who represents the same owners and will be ridden, like at Royal Ascot, by Kieran Shoemark.

“Ascot wasn’t a surprise at all, as he’s always been an exceptionally good work horse,” continued Walker.

“He’s exuberant and playful, and the set up was ideal, although I do worry about the nature of Goodwood compared to Ascot as it’s a completely different track.

“We’ve always had huge belief in this horse. On his day when everything’s right, he’s very, very good.

“It’s quite hard to get everything right with him, but I think when he gets it right, he’s an exceptional horse and he has been flying since Ascot.”

Humidity coming to the boil for hot-looking Vintage Stakes

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Royal Ascot scorer Humidity will attempt to turn up the heat on his rivals when he puts both his unbeaten record and growing reputation on the line in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday.

Andrew Balding’s son of Ulysses excelled from the front when winning the Chesham Stakes and although the form of that race has taken the odd knock since, connections are hopeful they have identified the perfect Group Two spot for the exciting youngster to cement his position near the top of the juvenile ranks.

“I loved the way he did it at Ascot and he was just lolloping along and James (Doyle) felt if someone had come to him he would have picked up and gone again,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“The form has taken a few whacks which would make you nervous, but he did it in great style at Ascot and it makes you excited to seeing him go again.

“He’s drawn 10 which might be a bit wider than ideal, but hopefully he can get out and get striding.

“I’m sure we’ll try to go forward with him, but it’s not like he has to make the running and he’s a really relaxed horse who has a very big stride and I think he will be fine.”

Also arriving with a 100 per cent record from two starts is Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri, who renews July Stakes rivalry with Ed Walker’s Do Or Do Not having fought out the finish at Newmarket last month.

Both colts are stepping up in trip here, something Johnson Houghton believes will bring improvement from Zavateri.

Zavateri in the parade ring after winning the July Stakes
Zavateri in the parade ring after winning the July Stakes (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club)

“He’s been in very good form since Newmarket and won the July Stakes impressively,” said Johnson Houghton.

“I know he’s got a 3lb penalty now, but we think that won’t be a problem to him and we’ve always thought he wanted further so this was the obvious next step for him.”

Aidan O’Brien has won this three times in the past, with Highland Reel his most notable graduate, and this time he relies on Dorset, who has caught the eye both in defeat on debut and when returned to the Curragh to open his account next time.

O’Brien said: “We think he’s come forward from the last day and it will be interesting to see.”

Dorset is joined from Ireland in the line-up by Joseph O’Brien’s Coventry Stakes fourth Andab, who has not only had the misfortune of bumping into an on-song Gstaad but also Albert Einstein since a clear-cut winner on debut.

Dorset in winning action at the Curragh
Dorset in winning action at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

David Menuisier’s Goodwood Galaxy, Richard Hannon’s Gharma Sutra and Hugo Palmer’s Laureate Crown have all raced once, won once and step up in grade, with the latter given the chance to emulate subsequent Classic hero Galileo Gold who won this for Palmer 10 year’s ago.

Charlie Johnston’s Vincenzo Peruggia showed marked improvement when off the mark at the second time of asking, while John and Thady Gosden’s Haydock winner Morris Dancer.

Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance

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King George hero Calandagan appears far from certain to line up in the Juddmonte International at York next month, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard suggesting he could keep his powder dry for major targets on foreign soil later in the year.

Fresh from securing a belated first Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the four-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel to provide his trainer with back-to-back wins in Saturday’s Ascot feature following Goliath’s triumph 12 months ago.

Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025.

“He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he’s very efficient.

“I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven’t been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai, so I can’t keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage.

“I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.”

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam.

When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: “He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess.

“He’s a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It’s a big question mark.

“If he doesn’t go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.”

Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.

‘Way ahead of his time’ – tributes paid to Edward O’Grady

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Former jockey Norman Williamson led the tributes to Edward O’Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75, hailing him “a remarkable trainer and a remarkable man”.

Williamson rode a whole host of big-race winners for O’Grady, including his last Cheltenham Festival success in the saddle aboard Back In Front in the 2003 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He also enjoyed notable success aboard the likes of Ned Kelly, winner of the 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle, and Nick Dundee, both of whom were owned by John Magnier.

Edward O'Grady speaks to the press at Leopardstown
Edward O’Grady speaks to the press at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Williamson said: “He was a remarkable trainer and a remarkable man and I think way ahead of his time, to be honest.

“What he did as a young man, I think he took over from his father in his early 20s, was amazing.

“Once you were on his team you knew you were going to be riding some good horses and we had a lot of success together.”

O’Grady saddled 18 Cheltenham Festival winners, putting him 17th on the all-time list.

“He never took a horse to Cheltenham with no chance, they all had reason to be there and he knew when he had one,” Williamson added.

“I actually rode my last Cheltenham winner for him on Back In Front. He was a short-priced favourite (for the Supreme) on the day, but it was like he was running him in a maiden hurdle. Edward knew what he had and he knew he was good enough.

“Ned Kelly won the Irish Champion Hurdle for us and Nick Dundee was a great horse, but we unfortunately didn’t get to see his full potential. He fell in the SunAlliance Chase in Cheltenham when he was cantering, he was the banker that year.

“We had some great times together, he was a great pal and he’ll be sadly missed.”

Sky’s the Limit and Barry Geraghty clear the final flight in the Coral Cup
Sky’s the Limit and Barry Geraghty clear the final flight in the Coral Cup (David Jones/PA)

Another jockey who teamed up with O’Grady for Cheltenham Festival success was Barry Geraghty, with Sky’s The Limit dominating his rivals in the 2006 Coral Cup.

Geraghty said: “It’s really sad news and a shock.

“Edward was a brilliant man and you would meet him regularly racing. He was always good company and he was a brilliant trainer who had great success. How he produced his horses… they were always so fit and so well and so well schooled.

“But above everything else he was a brilliant family man, a great father who loved his family and I’m sure everyone is devastated.

“Growing up and watching on, Edward O’Grady – he was the man at Cheltenham. I was fortunate to win on Sky’s The Limit for him and I rode Back In Front to win the Morgiana Hurdle in Punchestown, we had lots of really good days.”

Mouse Morris rode Edward O'Grady's first Cheltenham Festival winner
Mouse Morris rode Edward O’Grady’s first Cheltenham Festival winner (PA)

O’Grady’s first Festival winner was Mr Midland, who landed the National Hunt Chase in 1974 in the hands of future Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Mouse Morris.

“I was with Edward for 17 years, riding for him as an amateur and when I turned professional,” said Morris.

“He was a very good trainer and was having winners in Cheltenham at a time when the Irish had very few winners there.

“Golden Cygnet was probably the best horse he trained and I remember winning on a horse called I’m Happy. He won a bumper at Naas and was sold to England. I think he was the first horse to beat Bula, that’s going back a long time!”

Family announces death of Irish training great Edward O’Grady

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Edward O’Grady, one of the greats of Irish National Hunt racing, died on Sunday evening at the age of 75, his family has announced.

O’Grady trained a whole host of top-class horses over the course of his long and illustrious career and for a long time was the leading Irish trainer at the Cheltenham Festival where he saddled 18 winners, the first being Mr Midland in the 1974 National Hunt Chase.

A statement released by his family through Horse Racing Ireland read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward O’Grady, who passed away peacefully yesterday evening at St James’s Hospital (in Dublin), surrounded by his family.

“Edward was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation.

“Over the course of an extraordinary career that spanned more than five decades, Edward trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force at Cheltenham and across the racing world.

“Beyond the winners and the headlines, Edward was a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. He had friends on every continent, a story for every occasion, and a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field and everything equestrian.

“Funeral details will be announced in due course.”

Edward O’Grady gives interviews after Cash and Go won at Leopardstown
Edward O’Grady gives interviews after Cash and Go won at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Perhaps the most talented horse to pass through O’Grady’s hands was Golden Cygnet, a brilliant winner of the 1978 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but fatally injured in the Scottish Champion Hurdle the following month.

More recent Festival winners for O’Grady include Pizarro, who landed the 2002 Champion Bumper in the hands of top Flat jockey Jamie Spencer, and the 2003 Supreme scorer Back In Front.

Away from Cheltenham, O’Grady saddled Sound Man to win successive runnings of the Tingle Creek at Sandown in 1995 and 1996, while his final Grade One winner was Cash And Go in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival in 2011.

Other top-class horses he trained include 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Ned Kelly and his half-brother Nick Dundee, who both carried the colours of Coolmore supremo John Magnier.

O’Grady trained for more than 50 years from his base in County Tipperary, taking over at Killeens after the death of his father, Willie – a former dual Irish champion jockey and later trainer – in January 1972.

His final winner came via Our Soldier in a Bellewstown handicap hurdle at the start of July, while his last runner, Sovereign Banter, finished unplaced in a Cork sprint on Friday night.

Racing Bulletin for 28/07/2025

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Make Me King crowned Pomfret hero

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The globetrotting Make Me King made the most of having his sights lowered in the Sky Bet Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract.

Formerly trained by Andre Fabre before being snapped up by Wathnan Racing and joining Hamad Al Jehani, the five-year-old has since been campaigned in Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and France, with his sole previous success in Britain coming on the all-weather at Newcastle.

Having finished a close third in a Group Three at Chantilly last time out, Make Me King was a 7-2 shot for this Listed assignment and after tracking the pacesetting pair of Prague and Point Lynas into the straight, he finished off strongly under Danny Tudhope to score by a length and a quarter.

“We got a nice position early, they didn’t go as quick as I thought they would and I gave my fellow a chance to travel smoothly and when I picked him up he showed a nice turn of foot,” Tudhope told Racing TV.

“I think I was in the right position at the right time and he got the job done. It was a great performance.”

Cicero’s Gift made late gains in second, with Checkandchallenge coming from even further back to finish third after blowing the start.

Last year’s winner Point Lynas, a 15-8 favourite to go back-to-back after an excellent second in Ascot’s Summer Mile a fortnight ago, weakened quickly to finish a disappointing last of six.

Coppull on course for Richmond test

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Clive Cox is relishing the opportunity to unleash Coventry Stakes third Coppull in the Markel Richmond Stakes, as he seeks a third success in the Qatar Goodwood Festival contest.

The Lambourn handler landed back-to-back victories of the Group Two event with Supremacy and Golden Horde respectively in 2019 and 2020 and has bided his time with his latest candidate after the son of Bated Breath outran odds of 66-1 at Royal Ascot.

“I was really pleased with his effort in the Coventry and I just wanted to give him a little bit of time as he’s still developing,” said Cox.

“He’s done nothing but please so far and this is another big step, but we really like him.

“It’s nice to be heading to these races with horses in form.”

Cox is well known for his exploits in the juvenile division and has another smart youngster on his hands in the form of A Bit Of Spirit, who may have lost his unbeaten record when touched off in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes on Friday but left Ascot with his reputation enhanced.

“I’m very happy and he’s come out the race well and he’s another highly regarded horse we are happy is heading the right way,” continued Cox.

“On a big, wide open track it would have been nice if the winner (Time To Turn) had come a bit closer to us in the finish, but William (Buick, winning rider) knew exactly what he was doing and we were witness to that at Newbury first time out.

“He (A Bit Of Spirit) gets seven furlongs as well, we’ll just give him a few days before we figure out what we do. He’s a very pleasing two-year-old who we hope keeps going.”

Spencer happy to play waiting game with ‘exciting’ Gold Digger

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Albany Stakes sixth Gold Digger might not be seen again this season, having suffered a setback following her promising run at Royal Ascot.

An impressive winner at Yarmouth on debut, Richard Spencer’s exciting daughter of Starman was not disgraced when beaten just over four lengths at the Royal meeting and that form looks strong, with the winner Venetian Sun subsequently landing the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket and the fourth home Fitzella striking gold in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

However, immediate plans are on hold for Gold Digger, with connections eager to take a patient approach with a filly Spencer describes as “one of the best we’ve had for a while”.

“The form is very good but she had a little niggle after Ascot so she won’t be out anytime shortly,” said the trainer.

“Whether we can get her back out in the autumn I don’t know, but we won’t be rushing her because she’s very talented.

“She will be a three-year-old so we’re not going to rush to get her back just for this year, so we’ll mind her and if we have to, wait until next year.”

On plans for her return, Spencer added: “If anything we will be dropping back to five furlongs to start off with then potentially stepping back up to six, but she’s got so much speed. She got quicker from her Yarmouth debut to the Albany, so she’ll be going five I would say wherever she goes.

“She won’t run until she says she’s ready and we won’t be rushing, but she’s exciting though and probably one of the best we’ve had for a while.”

Appleby targets winning farewell for Desert Flower

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Charlie Appleby is keen to find his 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower a suitable opportunity to go out on a high ahead of her planned retirement at the end of the season.

The Moulton Paddocks handler enjoyed a Classic double at Newmarket in early May, with Desert Flower’s success preceded by victory for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas the previous afternoon, but both have come up short in their subsequent top-level assignments.

Ruling Court will join Prix Maurice de Gheest-bound stablemate Shadow Of Light in action at Deauville in the coming weeks, but it is still to be determined where Desert Flower will be seen next as Appleby eyes the perfect end to the high-class filly’s career after she was beaten into third place as a hot favourite for the Oaks last month.

Desert Flower won the 1000 Guineas in May
Desert Flower won the 1000 Guineas in May (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Epsom took it’s toll on her and she’s back in work now, but I’m not going to pigeon-hole her into any race just yet,” said Appleby.

“There’s only really two races left for her and she’s not going to be a Breeders’ Cup filly. She could be a Prix Jean Romanet filly and realistically that is going to come too soon, but we’ll have to see.

“She’s a filly that owes us nothing and was always going to be retired at the end of this season. She’s far from retirement yet though and I just want to pick the right race to finish it off.

“It could be either a mile or 10 furlongs. A mile event might just become an easier option as the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half fillies look the stronger divisions at the moment, so I would probably look for something at a mile if I could.”

Ruling Court (right) winning the 2000 Guineas
Ruling Court (right) winning the 2000 Guineas (Joe Giddens/PA)

There may be some indecision regarding Desert Flower’s next assignment, but the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano was immediately highlighted by Appleby as Ruling Court’s next destination following his creditable third place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Appleby added: “He’s targeted to head to Deauville and I’m a big believer in getting their heads in front to gain confidence.

“It’s pointless stepping up and stepping up and keep getting chinned as after a certain amount of time they lose interest. There’s a method behind it and hopefully it pays off.”

Tornado goes down a storm in Munich

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Tornado Alert claimed German Group One glory for Saeed bin Suroor and Oisin Murphy with a clear-cut success in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich.

Although without a victory in three previous starts this season, the Too Darn Hot colt had performed admirably in finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, before chasing home subsequent Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Trinity College in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having been sent across Europe in pursuit of top-level success, in a race Bin Suroor and Murphy won with Benbatl in 2018, Tornado Alert was never too far off the pace and quickened up smartly to lead halfway up the home straight.

Map Of Stars, bidding to provide his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with a second Group One success in as many days following Calandagan’s triumph in the King George at Ascot on Saturday, came from further back to throw down his challenge under James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing silks. But try as he might he could not get on terms with Tornado Alert, who was ultimately well on top at the line.

Bin Suroor said: “He won well, the ground was heavy and he’s never run before on this ground, but he handled it well.

“I said to Oisin before the race ‘just keep him happy and give him a chance’, but he was travelling good all the way and when he came off the bridle he saw it out well.”

Tornado Alert holds big-race entries in the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood next month, but Bin Suroor is in no rush to firm up future plans, adding: “We’ll see how he comes back after the race and then we’ll make a decision.

“He’s a horse who is improving all the time. He ran well at Royal Ascot, his form is very good and he has improved every time he has run.

“Physically he looks better now than when he finished fourth in the Guineas, but with time and age that is what you would expect.

“He has plenty of speed, but I think a mile and a quarter is his best trip at the moment.”

Naas triumph has Sky Majesty camp thinking big

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Sky Majesty could be given a second chance in Group One company before the season is out following her Listed success at Naas on Wednesday.

The three-year-old daughter of Blue Point won both a Group Three and a Group Two as a juvenile and was not too far away from the action when eighth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Connections felt the prevailing quick ground at the royal meeting was perhaps not to her liking and she showed her true colours back on an easier surface after being sent to Ireland earlier this week, claiming a smart victory in the Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes for trainer William Haggas.

Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom, said: “We thought she ran well in the Commonwealth Cup, Tom Marquand said she probably wasn’t letting herself down properly on the very quick ground at Ascot.

“Her best run last year, when she won a Group Two, was in France and that was on heavy ground, so we were delighted when the ground was on the easy side at Naas.

“The first couple of races showed a draw bias, you wanted to be drawn high, so we were slightly worried when she was drawn in (stall) two but in fairness to Tom, he got out of the stalls very quickly and I think that made all the difference.”

Sky Majesty was saddled with a penalty at Naas and will encounter similar burdens in races of a similar level, which may push a move towards top-level events when the ground softens.

“She won well there and there are a few options for her now, we’ll wait and see how she comes out of the race and we’d be keen to avoid very quick ground with her again,” said Graham.

“We’re getting rain but nowhere near as much as we need. She carried a 7lb penalty at Naas because she’s a Group Two winner, that makes you want to go for a Group Three but she’d probably still have to carry a penalty.

“We may have to pick and choose where we run her but hopefully she makes into a filly that could run in Group Ones on soft ground at the end of the year.

“We don’t want to get too carried away, but it might have done her confidence a bit of good to get her head back in front again.

“William Haggas is a genius at keeping these fillies ticking over and finding races for them to win so that’s what we hope to do.”

Dubai Future to renew rivalry with Illinois in Goodwood Cup

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Gold Cup third Dubai Future will bid to provide trainer Saeed bin Suroor with a fourth victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.

Previously successful with Kayf Tara (1999), Schiaparelli (2009) and Cavalryman (2014), the veteran trainer will this year saddle a nine-year-old who has split his time between England and Middle East while developing into a seasoned stayer.

He missed the entirety of the 2024 season but has been in good form since his return to action in Dubai earlier in the year, with an unplaced run in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier seemingly just a blip as he got back on track behind Trawlerman and Illinois in last month’s two-and-a-half-mile Royal Ascot feature.

Saeed bin Suroor runs Dubai Future in the Goodwood Cup
Saeed bin Suroor runs Dubai Future in the Goodwood Cup (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Dubai Future is in good form, he worked on Thursday and he’s in very good form,” said bin Suroor.

“He had to take a little break, but he is doing very well as a nine-year-old, he settled well at Ascot and that was a good run in the Gold Cup.

“He’s in very good condition and we’re looking forward to getting him out again.”

Dubai Future is one of eight runners declared for the showpiece event on day one of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and renews rivalry with Aidan O’Brien’s Gold Cup runner-up Illinois, as well as John and Thady Gosden’s fourth home Sweet William.

O’Brien has a second major contender in the form of runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, while the Gosdens fire a three-pronged assault, with the improving Copper Horse Stakes winner French Master and Military Academy also in the mix.

Alan King will be hoping for some ease in the ground for his 2021 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, with the field completed by the David Menuisier-trained Sunway, who tests his stamina over two miles for the first time after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke at the Royal meeting.

Racing Bulletin for 27/07/2025

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