Tag Archive for: Goodwood

Jm Jungle surprises King George rivals

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Jm Jungle caused a minor upset in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

A field of 12 sprinters went to post for the five-furlong dash, with John and Sean Quinn’s high-class handicapper Jm Jungle a 14-1 shot for what was his first appearance at Group-race level.

Smartly away in the hands of Jason Hart, the five-year-old was towards the main group that raced on the far side of the track from the start and showed a willing attitude when the challengers attempted to reel him late on to prevail by a neck.

She’s Quality filled the runner-up spot for her fourth race in succession, with Commonwealth Cup victor Time For Sandals half a length further behind in third.

John Quinn was winning the race for a second time, having saddled Highfield Princess to strike gold two years ago, and his son Sean said: “We looked at the sprint division, decided it wasn’t as strong as usual and that we would throw our hat into the ring.

“We knew he operated on a downhill track like Epsom (won the Dash on Derby day) and that the ground might inconvenience others more than us.

“He probably loves fast ground but he’s versatile and is a horse that gives his all, while he’s a lot stronger this year.

“In the paddock he was walking round like an old pro. These opportunities don’t come around all that often, and when you have a day like this it’s massive.”

Jm Jungle and Jason Hart lead the way at Goodwood
Jm Jungle and Jason Hart lead the way at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

An appearance closer to home is next on Jm Jungle’s agenda, with a tilt at Group One glory in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes on August 22 – a race also won by Highfield Princess in 2022 – looming large.

“Jason said early in the season that the race he would love to ride him in would be the Nunthorpe, simply because of how fast they go and how much he likes York,” Quinn added.

“That looks the natural next step because he is a Group Two winner now, so you want to be going up from there, and we put him in the Abbaye earlier in the week and that’s a similar race. You get a good draw up the rail and you see how much speed he has – he’d be in that van early doors.

“It was easier watching Highfield Princess because she never looked like getting beat. I was hoping, willing for the line to come in the last furlong today but it did and he toughed it out. The second came to him and I think he went again.”

Rhoscolyn gallops to Golden glory at Goodwood

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Rhoscolyn continued his Goodwood love affair when claiming the valuable Coral Golden Mile.

Travelling kindly for Daniel Tudhope throughout, the seven-year-old was in the ideal place to pounce in the closing stages.

Stoked up by his rider as the race began to unfold, he surged onto the scene inside the final furlong before galloping a length clear of runner-up Ebt’s Guard at the line.

It was the seven-year-old’s second appearance of the week on the Sussex Downs having finished down the field when seen on Wednesday, but by scoring at odds of 11-2, Rhoscolyn went one better than his second in this race in 2021 to register not only his sixth course success, but also give David O’Meara a third win in the contest since 2020.

The trainer said: “The rain came in the nick of time otherwise the boys might not have run him, but he didn’t take anything out of himself when he ran here earlier in the week.

“I think we’ve been fortunate to benefit from the bad luck of others in this race and once again the gaps came for him.

“There’s a nice handicap over seven furlongs or a mile back here for him worth a hundred grand and that’s where he’ll go.”

William Muir, co-trainer of runner-up Ebt’s Guard along with Chris Grassick, said: “He cost five grand and he is an absolute star. He won the Spring Cup at Newbury, was unlucky not to be placed in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot because we were drawn in the middle and he got too far back.

“Last time in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket people said he was disappointing, but if he hadn’t been hampered he would have been third. He was shut off twice.

“He takes everything you give him. I am really proud of him. I didn’t enter him at York because that was the only place he ran badly last year.

“He could run in a Racing League race and I will put him in the Cambridgeshire. He finished sixth in it last year.”

Richard Hughes, trainer of third-placed Real Gain, said: “On good ground we might just have done it. In the soft ground he probably just got jelly legs in the last 100 yards.

“We are thrilled with him. He hadn’t run for a year, he had bone soreness, so we had to give him time off. He will go straight to the Cambridgeshire.”

Seagulls Eleven flies home for Thoroughbred triumph

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Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven bagged the big-race victory he has long promised in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood.

A son of the trainer’s 2000 Guineas hero Galileo Gold, Seagulls Eleven is owned by several current and former Brighton & Hove Albion footballers, including James Milner and Danny Welbeck.

After breaking his duck at Haydock last summer, the three-year-old went on to run with credit in the Superlative Stakes, the National Stakes and the Dewhurst before the end of his juvenile campaign and his best race since his return came when second to Opera Ballo in a Newmarket Listed race three weeks ago.

With Opera Ballo a significant non-runner in this Group Three contest, Seagulls Eleven was one of just four runners to go to post and after taking an early lead under Oisin Murphy, the 11-4 shot found plenty for pressure late on to score by three-quarters of a length from Diego Ventura.

Palmer said: “He can be a handful to saddle but not in a nasty way, he has a kind look in his face and is genuinely versatile.

“Last year he had to run in the Group Ones and ran with great credit, but it’s taken a while for him to get his confidence back.

“Today when they came to him, he had the guts to go and get the job done.

“He’s been invited to the Golden Eagle in Australia and there are 10 million reasons why he should go for that, but first we might give him another at home. It might be that we have to supplement into the Celebration Mile and he’s not in the City of York.”

Diego Ventura is owned by Wathnan Racing, whose racing adviser Richard Brown said: “He has arguably run a career-best race. He was just getting going and Oisin has slightly rolled off the rail on the winner and it has cost him a little bit of momentum, but I don’t think it has made a difference to the result.

“We will talk to Hamad (Al Jehani, trainer) and the team but he is strongest at the line and we will probably try up in trip.”

Richard Hannon’s King Of Cities was the third-placed horse when beaten a length and a quarter under Ryan Moore, with the trainer saying: “He looked like he didn’t help Ryan much to me. It was disappointing not being beaten far.

“There are big races in him but he looks a bit flat-footed sometimes. Ryan thought it might have helped if he had gone on a bit, but they were probably going a good enough gallop if he wanted to. For me, he just does enough.”

Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year finished last of the four runners with Colin Keane reporting: “I would say the ground was a little bit against us.

“He relaxed and travelled round nicely but, when we needed him, he wasn’t able to, and I didn’t think we got to the line very strong.

“I would be inclined to come back to seven furlongs. I wouldn’t even rule out a stiff six on nicer ground, where they go hard and you can ride a race on him. Hopefully, he will hit the line better. Today he felt straightforward, it felt like he tried, it just felt like the trip was stretching him.”

Term Of Endearment out for Lillie Langtry repeat

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Last year’s winner Term Of Endearment returns to Goodwood, albeit for new connections, for Saturday’s Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes.

Having previously won twice at Group Three level, the six-year-old bagged this Group Two prize 12 months ago for Henry de Bromhead before being sold for 1.3 million guineas at Tattersalls in December.

She has failed to add her tally since joining William Haggas for her new owner Zhang Yuesheng, but was only beaten a head by Scenic in the Bronte Cup at York on her penultimate start and was just over two lengths behind veteran stayer Coltrane in Sandown’s Coral Marathon four weeks ago.

“She obviously won the race last year but we didn’t have her then,” said Haggas.

“She seems fine, she’s a nice filly and the drop of rain would suit her.

“It might have been good to firm when she won last year, but in our experience with her, she’d be suited by the drop of rain.”

Term Of Endearment’s rivals include Goodie Two Shoes, who has won her last three races for Joseph O’Brien and JP McManus, while John and Thady Gosden saddle both Sueno and Danielle and Owen Burrows sends out Waardah, winner of a Listed event at this track in early June.

O’Brien said of his runner: “It looks a nice race but we are a little worried about the rain so we’ll be taking a watching brief on that, but she’s in good shape and has prepared well for the race.

“Since coming back to the Flat she has really taken her form to another level over staying distances and we’ll be trying to make her a Group Two winner after winning a Group Three last time.”

Haggas also saddles the defending champion in the Group Three Coral Glorious Stakes in Al Aasy, as well as six-time winner Candleford.

He added: “Hopefully Al Aasy will run a good race in it again. He won it last year so we know he acts on the track, which is not always a given.

“Candleford won’t run if it is soft, so it depends how soft it is.”

In the same race Charlie Appleby is represented by one-time Classic contender Arabian Crown, who finished third behind stablemate El Cordobes in the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on his first start since being gelded.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “Arabian Crown put up a pleasing effort in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and came out of the race well.

“The ground was quick enough at Newmarket and he should enjoy the slower conditions here.”

Get It back to defend Stewards’ Cup title for Baker

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George Baker will be the proudest man on the Sussex Downs when his star sprinter Get It defends his Coral Stewards’ Cup crown at Goodwood on Saturday.

The seven-year-old blazed a trail for a shock 40-1 success 12 months ago and after a similar story in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot when again making all, the speedster is out to continue his rich vein of form off a career-high mark.

“I didn’t think we would win a Wokingham off 100 and do I think we will win a Stewards’ Cup off 104? Well it’s a massive ask,” said Baker on the task at hand.

“But these sprinters, when they get in a good place and it’s their time, you just have to roll with them.

“It’s such a dull cliché but he genuinely owes us nothing. To saddle him with a Stewards’ Cup and Wokingham already under his belt is a massive thrill and privilege, but if he could add another chapter it would be extraordinary.”

Goodwood was hit with a deluge on Thursday, but Baker is praying for drying conditions ahead of Saturday’s feature event to allow his thriving speedball to notch another notable success.

“I hope we don’t see any more rain until Saturday evening and he enjoys it when it’s rattling fast, so he’ll be fine on good ground but we don’t want it soft,” continued Baker.

Get It after winning at Goodwood last year
Get It after winning at Goodwood last year (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“There’s nothing we can do about the weather though and we’ll take our chances unless it will be really horrible.

“The higher we go up the handicap, the closer we are to running in Group races and we’re on the cusp of that now. It will be tough but a sprinter in a good place can be a potent force.”

Joining Get It towards the top of the betting markets is Kevin Ryan’s Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes runner-up Hammer The Hammer and William Haggas’ Elmonjed, who is out to defy a 6lb penalty after landing a competitive heat at York only last Saturday.

Haggas said: “It’s not ideal running him under the penalty. He was only put up 3lb yet he’s carrying 6lb more here.

“But he’s clearly in form, he loves a fast pace and I just hope we’re on the right side (stall eight).

“At the moment no one knows where you want to be. Nobody knows.

“I remember one year James Fanshawe never turned up for the draw, they put his horse (Zidane in 2007) back in the hat and gave him the last stall and he came out and won, so there are no rules.”

Another quickly returned to the track under a 6lb penalty after notable success last weekend is Richard Spencer’s Two Tribes, who has convinced his handler to try six furlongs once again after landing the International Handicap over seven at Ascot.

“He’s not got a bad draw, drawn high (25), and he’s fresh and well after his win last week,” said Spencer.

Two Tribes winning at Ascot
Two Tribes winning at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“He’s run well over six furlongs before and this is a very big pot. The penalty last week ensured him a run and he came out of Ascot really well. I know I said we wouldn’t go for this race and run over six again, but we’re going to throw our hat in the ring on Saturday and hopefully he can run well.”

Two Tribes is part of a three-strong hand for the Newmarket trainer, with Spencer also calling upon Run Boy Run and experienced Group performer Twilight Calls.

Spencer said: “Run Boy Run has a high enough draw (19) hopefully and he’s going to have a visor on which is something I’ve been waiting to do on a run over six furlongs not seven. He’s got a good each-way chance and with the visor on, there could be some improvement from him.

“Hopefully Twilight Calls gets a good tow into the race and could run well as he did very well in the Wokingham off a higher mark and all three have got sort of chances.”

Murphy so proud of Cercene and gallant Nassau effort

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Joe Murphy could hardly have been more proud of Cercene following her second-placed finish in a gruelling renewal of the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

A deluge of rain turned the ground heavy and lightning in the area made it impossible for the starting stalls to be utilised, with a flag start instead required in the exceptionally challenging conditions.

Aidan O’Brien’s Whirl, the 6-5 favourite, justified that status with a five-length win, but behind her was 11-1 shot Cercene under rider Gary Carroll.

Murphy has often sought quick ground for the chestnut, who won the Coronation Stakes at 33-1 on good to firm at Ascot, but in torrential rain she showed just how tough she is with an admirable run in second, on her first try at a mile and a quarter.

“We were delighted with the filly, Gary said she was wheel-spinning on the ground and she still ran a great race,” said Murphy.

“We do know she needs good ground but just she’s just sheer courage, she’s a wonderful thing.

“She’s unbelievable, she really is. No words can describe how genuine and honest and tough she is. She loves life.

“She gets the trip no problem, but I think we’ll go back for the Matron (Stakes, over a mile at Leopardstown) and hope the ground is good.

“She’s the best filly I’ve ever trained and I’ve had some really good fillies.

“She just comes out on top, you could see for yourself the courage. Pure courage. I am proud, I’m proud of everyone. I’m proud of myself as well!”

On whether he considered withdrawing her when the rain fell so heavily, the trained quipped: “When you look at the prize pot and see the cheque you could get… we need the money!”

Andrew Balding’s See The Fire was the third-placed horse at 5-2 under Oisin Murphy, beaten six and a quarter lengths in total.

“Conditions weren’t ideal obviously, but who is to say we would have beaten the winner anyway?” said the trainer.

“She didn’t have a terribly hard time and seemed OK afterwards. We will kick on to York for the Juddmonte International.”

Wonderful Whirl powers to Nassau Stakes glory

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Aidan O’Brien’s Whirl dominated the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, to record her second Group One success of the season.

The previous race, the Gordon Stakes, was subject to a small delay due to a torrential downpour and when almost 30 millimetres of rain fell in half an hour, the going was changed to heavy.

With lightning in the area, too, the starting stalls were deemed too dangerous to use and following a flag start Ryan Moore took the bull by the horns and sent the Oaks runner-up into the lead.

The Musidora and Pretty Polly winner, who lost out only narrowly at Epsom to stablemate Minnie Hauk, was always in control and while See The Fire briefly looked a threat, Moore had saved plenty and Whirl pulled five lengths clear as the 6-5 favourite. Cecerne, a surprise winner of the Coronation Stakes, kept on well for second on her first run over 10 furlongs.

O’Brien said: “It’s incredible really, she’s a home-bred filly by Wootton Bassett who has all the options in front of her. She could go to the Arc, the Arc trials, and the Breeders’ Cup as well.

Derrick Smith congratulates Ryan Moore aboard Whirl
Derrick Smith congratulates Ryan Moore aboard Whirl (PA)

“In the spring when the fillies worked it was Whirl who came up in front. Minnie Hauk is a great traveller, a great cruiser, and we won’t see the best of her until she goes up in class against older horses.

“Even when she was following this filly at Epsom she was finding it very easy to follow her, but listen, we don’t know what this filly is yet either. We saw what happened at Epsom, where Ryan (on Minnie Hauk) was very confident that he was going to go and get her but she just kept coming with him.

“When they do come together we will find out who is the best.”

Merchant sets sail for Gordon success at rain-soaked Goodwood

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Merchant pulled out all the stops to deny Wimbledon Hawkeye in a thrilling finish to the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes in attritional conditions at a gloomy Goodwood.

An impressive winner in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, William Haggas’ improving son of Teofilo was sent off the 6-5 favourite to enhance his growing reputation with a Group Three success.

With the threat of lightning meaning a flag start it was Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon who led them along, with the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned market leader among those held up at the rear of the field along with Aidan O’Brien’s Galveston and Andrew Balding’s recent Sandown winner Windlord.

With the runners edging over to the stands side with the two-furlong pole approaching, it appeared as though James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye would take some reeling in, but Merchant’s jockey Tom Marquand had a brave ally when he needed him, with the colt bridging the deficit to register a nose verdict in the nick of time.

Whether it proves to be at home or abroad, exciting options now await for Merchant, who was bred by Jim Bolger. Doncaster or Paris appears to be the discussion to be had regarding the autumn.

Haggas said: “Tom said he didn’t enjoy the ground, but he kept going and that’s what I like about him the most.

“His temperament is brilliant, he doesn’t give a monkey’s about anything. That is one of his great attributes for the future.

Tom Marquand celebrates after winning the Gordon Stakes
Tom Marquand celebrates after winning the Gordon Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“They all had to cope with the conditions, it was going to be messy whatever happened with the flag start. He’s only won a nose and James’ horse ran a fabulous race.

“He really dug in well, he’s a very good horse. Desert Hero won this race and then ran in the St Leger and I don’t think he was ever quite the same afterwards.

“I’m worried about stretching this horse out to a mile and six too soon, I think he is really a horse for next year, too. We think he’s very good.

“However, if he didn’t like the ground there then he may not like the ground in France in autumn. I’m not saying the Arc is definitely not going to happen, but it’s not definitely not going to happen either.”

Merchant toughed it out
Merchant toughed it out (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Highclere’s Harry Herbert added: “I’m not sure we’ll go for the Leger, the plan – so long as he comes out of this race fine – is to go to York (Great Voltigeur Stakes)

“We’ll see how that goes, if York went well and we had good ground at York we’d see what this horse can do on perfect ground.

“Tom said he was spinning his wheels the whole way, it’s extraordinary that he’s won. If he happened to go through York OK then the trainer has talked more about the Arc, which is quite bold.

“He’s worried about going a mile and six as a three-year-old, he sees him as having a very big future. He’s a master with this type of horse.”

Day three of Goodwood hit by torrential rain

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The third day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival was hit by a huge downpour, leaving racegoers running for cover.

After the first two days took place in pleasant weather, the forecast always suggested conditions on day three could take a turn for the worse.

The first race passed on good to firm ground, but as the runners gathered at the start for race two, the Markel Richmond Stakes, the storm clouds were gathering.

As Clive Cox’s Coppull crossed the line in front, the heavens had opened and an almighty downpour ensued.

It took no time at all for puddles to form in the paddock and clerk of the course Ed Arkell took the decision to call a temporary halt to proceedings.

After a 20 minute dousing, the rain began to ease off and the meeting was allowed to get back under way. However, with lightning in the area the Gordon Stakes was started by flag, rather than stalls.

There was also a delay to the feature Qatar Nassau Stakes with the course keen for the day’s main attraction to begin via starting stalls, with Arkell telling ITV Racing: “We’ve had 26mm in 20 minutes or so and we’ll make a ground change and it will probably be heavy.

Racegoers ducking for cover at Goodwood
Racegoers ducking for cover at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“We might have a delay to the Group One while they get the lightning out of the way so they can use the stalls with it being a Group One. It’s very important for the integrity of the race but it’s a decision for the stewards, the starters, the jockeys and myself.

“If we can possibly use starting stalls by holding a race up by five minutes or so that would be great.

“Your guess is as good as mine as to how much more rain is to come, there’s some more about and we weren’t forecast this, but I’m not sure the forecast is that reliable at the moment.”

Coppull braves Goodwood downpour in Richmond Stakes

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Clive Cox won the Markel Richmond Stakes for the third time in seven years as Coppull ran out a comfortable winner at Goodwood, in a race run in torrential rain.

Following on from Golden Horde in 2019 and Supremacy 12 months later, Cox bided his time with the son of Bated Breath after a meritorious run at Royal Ascot.

He finished third behind Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes there and paid the winner a handsome compliment, always looking in control under David Probert.

Aidan O’Brien’s Puerto Rico finished second for the third race in a row, but never looked like getting on terms with the two-length winner.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane was last at the halfway stage and while he did make plenty of progress, his run eventually flattened out and he finished third.

Cox said: “I was worried about soft ground because he’s got such a beautiful action on a nice surface. He’s very quick and did that really well.

“I’m still not sure he’ll go on really soft ground so if we’d been in the next race it would have been harder work, but he’s still very good and he showcased that today.

“I think he’s very gifted and he’s a proper six-furlong horse so usual plans from here, Middle Park will be the end goal.”

O’Brien said of Puerto Rico: ‘‘I’m very happy with that. It was a lovely run and I’d say he’d be happy going up to seven furlongs.”

Johnson Houghton felt the rain had already got into the ground, blunting Havana Hurricane’s speed.

She said: “The ground was just a bit loose and that impacted on his turn of foot, but he’s run a lovely race.

“I’m really pleased, the horse in front is rated 102 and the horse in front of him is rated 104 – we’ve turned the form around with Maximised so I’m happy.

“He tries really hard, he’s an absolute legend and we love him.”

Asfoora carrying plenty of stable confidence for second crack at Goodwood sprint

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Henry Dwyer is confident Australian ace Asfoora is in the perfect place to secure King George Qatar Stakes redemption after being agonisingly denied at the Qatar Goodwood Festival 12 months ago.

The Antipodean speedster stuck around on British soil after her famous Royal Ascot win in the King Charles III Stakes last year and although out of luck at this year’s Royal meeting, her team are confident of bettering last year’s short-head defeat on Friday.

Dwyer said: “The conditions of the race are a lot more suitable this year and she has a bit less weight without the Group One penalty she had last year and the main opposition, Time For Sandals and Big Mojo, both have quite a bit of weight for their age and are dropping back from six furlongs to five furlongs.

“So I think the race sets up well for us, it’s just a case of whether she can find her best and if she finds it, I think she goes very close to winning and if she’s for some reason a length or two below her best, I still think she will still be right there.

“She’s nice and relaxed again after Ascot and we gave her two weeks out in the paddock after that to help her settle in a bit more and she seems in a good space.

“I think there’s definitely more to come and I do think she will improve again in three weeks’ time for York, but she’s on an upward curve and is going the right way and hopefully she is in very good shape for this race.”

It was Mick Appleby’s Big Evs who denied Asfoora in this last year and the Rutland handler, who has formed a great friendship with his Australian counterpart, looks to be a thorn in Dwyer’s side once again with July Stakes runner-up and course and distance scorer Big Mojo.

Big Mojo excelled at Goodwood last year
Big Mojo excelled at Goodwood last year (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“He’s in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again,” said Appleby.

“He’s got plenty of pace and I think at Goodwood it will definitely suit him dropping back to five furlongs and on form he should have a very good chance.

“Asfoora is probably the one to beat, but I think we will be thereabouts anyway.”

Joining Big Mojo in reverting back to five furlongs is Time For Sandals who was one half of Harry Eustace’s memorable Royal Ascot Group One double when landing the Commonwealth Cup.

Time For Sandals was a Royal Ascot scorer for Harry Eustace
Time For Sandals was a Royal Ascot scorer for Harry Eustace (John Walton/PA)

However, like Appleby, the Newmarket handler has few concerns about the shorter distance and said: “The big question mark is obviously going back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot.

“Personally, I don’t think it will be a problem and Richard (Kingscote) is pretty positive she’ll be fine over it too, but if we’re going to find her out this year it will be in this race.”

Also expected to thrive on one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country is Karl Burke’s Night Raider who is backed to showcase his blistering cruising speed.

“When we were buying him I always thought this was the race for him,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“He’s very fast and Goodwood is a very quick five as we know. It didn’t work at Ascot for him, but I do think this will be right up his alley.”

Celandine won the Lowther Stakes last summer
Celandine won the Lowther Stakes last summer (Mike Egerton/PA)

Meanwhile Ed Walker’s Lowther Stakes winner Celandine will bid to make up for lost time after being kept on the sidelines in the first half of the season.

“It’s been a very frustrating year with her so far,” said Walker.

“The plan was to go to Newmarket for the Kilvington as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup. The form from the Lowther was obviously rock solid in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals winning, so it was pretty heartbreaking being sidelined with a throat infection which dragged on and on.

“We got her back for York in the Summer Stakes, she ran a big race. She was hassled all the way, which wasn’t ideal. She didn’t get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third and proved that she’s trained on and she’s back.

“She had a good blow and she’ll come on a lot for that run. I’m not afraid to bring her back to five, so I think she’ll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.”

Field Of Gold found to be lame after Sussex Stakes disappointment

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Plans are on ice for Field Of Gold after the Classic and Royal Ascot hero was discovered to be lame following his below-par display in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

John and Thady Gosden’s star three-year-old was sent off the 1-3 favourite to emulate his sire Kingman and thrive against his elders on the Sussex Downs, but could only finish fourth as his Juddmonte-owned pacemaker Qirat caused a seismic shock at 150-1.

The Clarehaven training team suggested the “engine wasn’t there” in the immediate aftermath of the contest and now a potential reason for his disappointing performance could have been found.

“We don’t have the full picture yet, but he is lame on his left-hind,” Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, told the PA news agency.

“John called me this morning at 7am and said he was ‘off’ behind with a bit of swelling in his leg and the vet is due out to see him later today so until we have the full picture we can’t fully diagnose it.

“But the fact he is lame suggests that could potentially be why we didn’t see the true horse that we know yesterday. We just have to sit tight now until the vet can run through all the tests he can run through.”

With the severity of Field Of Gold’s setback still to be determined, it is unknown at this stage when one of the standout performers of the 2025 season will be next seen in competitive action.

Field Of Gold at Goodwood
Field Of Gold at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Mahon continued: “Plans are on ice and the thing with these things is, it might be a week before anything will show up on an X-ray or whatever, so it’s not something you will have an answer for straight away.

“But the fact the horse is lame indicates there is an issue and we have to address that. What that is and whether it will be a short fix or a long fix, we just don’t know at this stage.”

Despite Field Of Gold’s surprise reversal, there was still plenty of joy for the Juddmonte team with Ralph Beckett’s Qirat stealing the spotlight, with Mahon reflecting on a race of contrasting fortunes.

He added: “It was disappointing from a Field Of Gold point of view, but from a Juddmonte point of view the winner is a home bred and won it in good style and there has to be some satisfaction in that.

“As someone said to me yesterday, it was bittersweet but there was still plenty of sweet.”

Goodwood Eyecatcher Mdawi can go one better on Friday

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Charlie Johnston’s Mdawi was perhaps an unlucky loser at Goodwood on Wednesday, but it might not be long until he gains compensation.

Short of room when wanting to make his challenge in the opening mile-and-a-half handicap, he eventually got rolling but the bird had already flown and he had to settle for second, one and three-quarter lengths adrift of winner Omni Man.

A son of the top-class mare Peeping Fawn, he gets a second crack on the Sussex Downs over a furlong less on Friday and it would be no surprise to see him on the premises once again.

Lowther likely next step for Argentine Tango

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Argentine Tango could have an outing on home soil on her agenda after Yorkshire-trained runners filled the places in the HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

Tim Easterby’s consistent three-time winner arrived on the Sussex Downs on the back of a game performance in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and was an honourable runner-up this time around as she did her best to keep tabs on Ger Lyons’ impressive winner Lady Iman.

She could now step back up to six furlongs for her next outing and take up her engagement in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes during York’s Ebor Festival next month.

William Easterby, assistant to his father Tim, said: “She is a superstar and tough as old boots. Her attitude is unbelievable. You wouldn’t be afraid to run her anywhere because she tries so hard.

“She is not slow but we were not sure about coming back to five furlongs. The winner quickened past her and she stuck on again.

“She gets her attitude from her father, Mattmu. He was the same, he never gave up. Even when he was third in the 2015 Nunthorpe Stakes, he was outpaced but he kept galloping.

“She is in the Lowther Stakes at York so that would be the obvious way to go.”

Kevin Ryan’s Dickensian claimed the final spot on the podium after setting the early pace, another fine performance after his second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Jockey Shane Gray said: “It was another solid run. The ground was probably a little slow for him and he lost a bit of kick at the end, but he is a very genuine horse.”

Pacemaker Qirat stuns Sussex Stakes big guns

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Field Of Gold’s pacemaker Qirat caused an almighty shock with a 150-1 victory in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold was a 1-3 shot to follow in the hoofprints of his sire Kingman by adding this prestigious Group One contest to his previous top-level victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, who was last seen finishing 27th of 30 runners in the Royal Hunt Cup, was supplemented for the race last week at a cost of £70,000 in a bid to ensure the red-hot favourite had a strong gallop to aim at.

But the race did not go to script, with Qirat keeping up the gallop to emerge triumphant under Richard Kingscote, despite the best efforts of Rosallion, who was a neck adrift at the line.

Richard Kingscote returns on Qirat
Richard Kingscote returns on Qirat (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Field Of Gold, meanwhile, had to settle for a laboured fourth, with Henri Matisse third.

Beckett said: “Richard has always been a very good judge of the clock. The last thing I said to him was keep going with this fellow, he could run really well.

“He loves this place and I wanted to enter him because his work was really good. It’s a horse race and anything can happen.”

Qirat’s dam, Emulous, also produced last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner for Beckett in Bluestocking.

He went on: “I thought he looked a million beforehand and that in the race he would set the pace from the front, and the longer he lasted the better for those concerned with the favourite.

“He’s always threatened to be a good horse and today he showed it.

“What about the mare? To come up with Bluestocking and him. She’s been like a hole in the wall, like a cash machine.”

Kingscote, who recently announced he is taking up a licence in Hong Kong, said: “I feel like a villain but when I saw it wasn’t a grey nose (Field Of Gold) coming towards me I just kept going.”

Although clearly not the result owner-breeders Juddmonte were expecting, the team’s European racing manager Barry Mahon was keen to take the positives out of it.

Of Qirat, he told Racing TV: “Ralph said in the parade ring beforehand ‘this horse is going to run big’ and said to Richard ‘there’s a big run in this horse’. Whilst he was obviously there to make the pace, Ralph thought he could finish in the three and he was dead right.

“He’s a horse we always felt had a lot of potential. Ralph actually wanted to enter him for this race earlier in the year and in my wisdom I said ‘don’t be ridiculous’. We ended up having to supplement him, but he’s got the result.

“At the end of the day Juddmonte and the owners want to compete at the top level and want to win Group One races. Whilst it’s not with the horse we thought it would be, we’ve still won the race, which is the most important thing.”

When asked about future plans for the winner, Mahon added: “I’ve had people from America and Hong Kong and every sort of racing jurisdiction coming up to me inviting him to run, so hopefully the owners might want to travel him.

“Ralph knows a thing or two about winning a Breeders’ Cup race, so maybe that’s where he’ll end up.”

Field Of Gold in the Goodwood parade ring
Field Of Gold in the Goodwood parade ring (Molly Hunter/PA)

What the rest of the season holds for Field Of Gold remains to be seen, with Mahon saying: “The rest of the field seemed to get detached from the two pacemakers, but I think ultimately William (Buick) felt he didn’t handle the track and felt he was a bit flat today. We don’t know why, but we all have off days – human and equines and all manner of beasts.

“Whether there’s an issue there or something we’re not sure, we’ll have to investigate, but he’s definitely not the Field Of Gold that we’ve all seen and know. I’m sure he’ll be back and there’ll be another day.

“He’s had a good enough break since Ascot, John and Thady have freshened him up and they’ve been happy with how he’s trained. He looked good today and William said going to the start he felt very fresh, so maybe he was a little bit too fresh.

“We did give him a good break after Ascot and maybe we were a little bit kind on him. We’ll get him home and check him out first and I think we’ll have to make a plan after that.”