Goodwood Racecourse

Unbeaten bar a latest blip in testing ground in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 18, George Strawbridge's Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) bounced back to her brilliant best in Friday's G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood. Sent off at 7-1, the Apr. 20 G3 Prix Sigy and May 17 G3 Prix Texanita winner chased the frantic early pace which saw the four-times winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) sitting off it throughout the early stages. Coming alive for William Buick at halfway, the Francois Rohaut-trained...

Shadwell's homebred 3-year-old colt Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) announced his arrival on the scene going three-for-three with a four-length rout in Newmarket's Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. earlier this month and continued a rapid rise through the ranks with an explosive performance in Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood. He had earlier snagged a June 7 one-mile maiden on debut at Leicester, following up under a six-pound penalty in a June 19 novice heat at Newmarket, and went postward with overwhelming crowd confidence for this fourth outing...

Fresh from a landmark success in Tuesday's G1 Goodwood Cup, the Alan King stable was to the fore once more when Leora Judah's 2-year-old colt Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) displayed an explosive turn of foot to bag Thursday's G2 Unibet Richmond S. at the Sussex track. The March-foaled bay had opened up with a pair of novice scores, over this six-furlong strip and at Newmarket in June, before relinquishing his perfect record when the wrong side of a head verdict in the latter venue's July 8 G2 July S. last...

In the battle between the 3-year-old colts and fillies, it was Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) who prevailed over Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) with an impressive success in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. Trapped wide throughout the early stages from her wide draw and forced to take back and race towards the rear, the 7-2 second favourite who had annexed the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18 was delivered by Oisin Murphy to cut down Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas and...

Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) backed up an Apr. 24 maiden score at Doncaster with a close-up fifth, to the reopposing Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), in Royal Ascot's June 16 Listed Windsor Castle S. and announced his arrival on the juvenile scene with a devastating closing burst to seal an impressive triumph in Wednesday's G3 Markel Molecomb S. at Goodwood. The 6-1 chance was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and occupied a forward berth in sixth through the early fractions of this five-furlong...

A G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup without Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) meant that for the first time in five years it was heading elsewhere and Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) stepped forward to claim the title in the heavy conditions he relishes on Tuesday. As he proved when winning Ascot's G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup in October, the ground cannot be slow enough for the Alan King-trained 5-year-old and with the reigning champion taken out he traded as the 6-5 favourite. Always prominent under Hollie Doyle, the...

With overnight soft-ground conditions deteriorating to heavy, Tuesday's G2 Unibet Vintage S. was shorn of G2 July S. victor and likely protagonist Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) on a card struck by multiple scratchings. Step forward Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who followed up a one-length second in Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery S. to post a career high in Glorious Goodwood's day one juvenile feature. The 10-3 second choice and Ralph Beckett trainee had previously finished 13th behind the reopposing Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when contesting...

Breeders' Cup champion Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was second in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in June, is doing well in advance of the July 29 G1 Qatar Nassau S. One of the highlights of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the 10-furlong contest appears a good fit for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine. Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) won the Nassau 17 years ago for Fanshawe, who said on Monday, "Audarya seems in really good form. We've had the Qatar Nassau...

The Qatar Goodwood Festival, slated for July 27-31, will boast an increase in prize money for its three feature races, the racecourse announced on Tuesday. The G1 Qatar Sussex S. will once again be worth £1 million, while the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup has total prize money of £500,000. Rounding out the three Group 1s with increased prize money is the G1 Qatar Nassau S., which will be worth £600,000. Overall, the five-day festival will offer over £4.8 million in prize money in July. In 2020, purses were reduced due...

The British government on Friday morning withdrew permission for Goodwood Racecourse to host 5,000 spectators on Saturday as part of a pilot project for the return of fans to sporting events. A joint statement from the British Horseracing Authority, the Racecourse Association and Goodwood said it is believed the cancellation of the event is due to concerns about the national infection rate of coronavirus and is not a reflection of any concerns about Goodwood or the measures taken there. Racing will take place on Saturday behind closed doors. David Armstrong,...