Hi all,
When you read Monday’s piece, I will be on my way to London for a short break. Inside, you’ll find my review of last week’s racing at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Qatar Goodwood Festival Review
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is over for another year. Given the summer we have been having, the weather played ball. It was hot and sunny for most of the week, and there’s no better racecourse in the country, if not the world, than Goodwood on a sunny day.
Too Many Races at the Qatar Goodwood Festival?
However, there are too many races at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Five days is too long, and why do some days have eight-race cards? As much as I enjoyed the week, you could cut down the meeting to four days; in fact, three days would make it even tighter.
Of course, no changes will be made because Goodwood clearly sells tickets for the meeting. You must remember it’s as much a social event as a race meeting.
The first three days at Goodwood were good for me betting wise. However, it would have been even better if Apollo One or Billyjoh had won the Coral Stewards Cup. The first named finished runner-up for the second year running and Billyjoh ran a cracker from stall 4. If he had been drawn high, I think he would have won.
There were three Group 1s last week, but Friday’s Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes over five furlongs was a Group 1 in all but name.
Group 1 Highlights
Kyprios outclassed his rivals in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, proving in the process that he’s one of the best stayers of the past decade. He stays well, but even more importantly, he’s got the gears that most stayers don’t. I would love to see Aidan O’Brien send him to the Arc on soft ground. I could see him getting into the places. High-class stayers have run well in the Arc in the past. Ardross was fifth in 1981 and narrowly beaten in 1982, and O’Brien himself got Order Of St George into the frame on two occasions.
Notable Speech won the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, and he won like a 2,000 Guineas winner should. It was an excellent use of the cutaway by jockey William Buick, given the horse’s turn of foot. Hopefully, a rematch with Rosallion will be on the cards after that colt was forced to miss Wednesday’s race due to a respiratory infection.
Opera Singer got a good ride from Ryan Moore to win Thursday’s Nassau Stakes. Moore sent Opera Singer to the front and quickened it up coming down the hill. It was a race-winning move. She was challenged 1f out by Sea The Fire but dug in well to hold off that filly. Back in third was French Oaks winner Sparkling Plenty. It was a cracking effort by the French challenger, given how much ground she had to make up in the straight.
Future Prospects for Nassau Stars
The Arc will have to come under serious consideration for Opera Singer, but she will need good or quicker ground. An Arc bid could also be on the agenda for Sparkling Plenty, who is effective on softer ground.
Sea The Fire put in a brave effort in second, just failing by a neck to catch the all-the-way winner. A return to quick ground suited the daughter of Sea The Stars. It’s worth pointing out she improved her RPR by 8lb compared to Opera Singer improving by 3lb. That augurs well for Sea The Fire’s future.
It was a below-par effort by Emily Upjohn. She never settled from her wide draw. As she gets older, she’s getting cuter with her jockeys. If connections are to persist with her racing career, they might as well change tactics and let her go on from the front.
Success and Near Misses: Michael Appleby and Asfoora
Trainer Michael Appleby had a great Glorious Goodwood. Of all his winners this week, I suspect Big Evs success in the King George Qatar Stakes will have given him the most pleasure.
Big Evs is a likeable sprinter who always puts in maximum effort. He showed his trademark speed over this fast 5f to just hold off a strong finishing Asfoora by a short head.
They went fast out in front, and the final furlong was slow compared to the rest. Big Evs, up with the strong pace, beat the others who raced prominently by some way, so you can mark up his performance slightly.
Asfoora, who was carrying a 5lb penalty for Group 1 Royal Ascot success, was held onto by jockey Osin Murphy for a stride too long on this much sharper 5f. Indeed, Osin had the mare handier at Ascot than he did here. She comes out of the race as the best horse at the weights and must have a good chance to reverse placings with Big Evs in the Nunthorpe.
Just ¾ length back in third was Believing, who was also carrying a Group 2 penalty. She was doing her best work at the finish, and York’s 5f will suit her better than Goodwood. That said, the strong pace was in her favour here.
Furthermore, connections of Live In The Dream will be encouraged by his 2-length fourth. This was his best performance of the season, and he will now bid to retain his Nunthorpe Crown. The York race has been his target all season, and he can’t be ruled out back there.
Qatar Goodwood Festival Future Winners
Circe – Richard Hannon:
Circe finished a 3-length 4th of 12 to Arisaig in the fillies' mile handicap on Tuesday. She didn’t get the best of runs 3f out, but once in the clear, she ran on well all the way to the line. She remains on a competitive mark and should be able to add to her two career wins.
Midnight Gun – Hamad Al Jehani:
Midnight Gun seemingly stayed 1m 2f when a ½-length 3rd of 10 to Approval in the handicap that opened Thursday’s Goodwood card. He was just caught close home, having looked like he might win when taking it up 1f out. Connections had been concerned by the fast ground before the race, but he handled it well enough. The son of Kingman produced a career-best here and can improve further back on less quick ground.
Chief Mankato – Jack Channon:
Chief Mankato made a promising debut for Jack Channon when a 3 ¾ lengths 6th of 16 to Shagraan in Thursday's 5f handicap. He found things happening a bit quickly on his first start at the minimum trip but was doing his best work at the finish. He’s effective on quick ground and can be placed to winning advantage by a shrewd trainer when returned to 6f.
There were plenty of unlucky horses in Friday’s Coral Golden Mile Handicap. Three that immediately come to mind are Classic, Two Tempting, and Silent Film. Classic will be one to be interested in back at Sandown on quick ground. However, I was taken with the run of previous eyecatcher Bopedro who is now 4lb below last season’s winning mark and is ready to strike.
Qatar Goodwood Festival Verdict
This year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival provided some great racing and notable performances. Initially, I was going to praise the Goodwood Clerk of the Course for not overwatering for the first four days. However, after seeing Saturday’s ground, I won’t bother. The surface was loose on top, and the turf was being kicked up. I wonder how much water was put on the track on Friday night. If you were expecting quick ground for your selections, you didn’t get it. Was it yet another example of punters being rinsed on a Saturday?
I’ll be back on Wednesday.
All the best,
John