Qatar Goodwood Festival

The final three races of the Qatar Goodwood Festival Saturday card were cancelled after the racecourse failed to pass inspection after the Coral Stewards' Cup. A group of officials, trainers and jockeys went to inspect the track, and paid particular attention to the bend into the home straight. After the running of the G2 Lillie Langtry S. at 3 p.m, which took place during a torrential downpour, some jockeys were concerned regarding the state of the round course. Ed Arkell, Goodwood's director of racing, told Racing TV, "The jockeys expressed...

Last terms's sprinting revelation Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) may have missed the target on her three outing so far in 2023, but a pure speed test on soft ground in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. provides the ideal scenario for John Quinn's indomitable 6-year-old to get back on track on Friday. This was the time of the season that she grew wings last summer, rattling off a trio of Group 1 victories in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Nunthorpe and Flying Five within the space of...

So far at Goodwood this week, the front end has been the place to be in the races that matter most and that is good news for connections of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) as she prepares to battle her elders for the first time in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. They include the gilt-edged 4-year-old Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but Hollie Doyle no doubt has a far greater tactical task than Aurelien Lemaitre on the French raider who is even drawn in one to add more bolster to...

Last year, Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was 1-6 when extending his influence in Goodwood's G1 Qatar Sussex S. and if the forecast heavy rain leads to the withdrawal of Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) it could be that the 2023 edition sees another mortal lock in Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). With the prospect of up to 10mm of overnight rain before strong storm winds hit the area, this is going to be tough going and Cheveley Park Stud's Chris Richardson has not ruled out giving it a miss if...

John and Thady Gosden will be well-represented at the upcoming Qatar Goodwood Festival from Aug. 1-5, with a host of stars set to start at the meeting including Group 1 winners Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}). At present, the father-son team has both G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami and G2 Queen's Vase victor Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), both unbeaten, in the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday. Both horses race in the colours of the Emir...

   A look back at the winners of Goodwood's King George S. illustrates how sprint lines permeate all areas of the breed, from fellow sprinters to Derby winners. The win of Khaadem (Ire) in the G2 King George S. at the Qatar 'Glorious' Goodwood Festival has further enhanced the great record in the race of his trainer Charlie Hills, who has now saddled the winner in five of the past six years. Hills has, of course, been helped by having had the mighty Battaash (Ire) under his care, that great...

Wagering into the World Pool topped £97 million over the first three days of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The gross turnover for World Pool bets increased by almost 66% when compared to 2021's figures of £59 million. World Pool, which is a collaboration of global totes, enables racing fans from all over the globe to bet into a single pool. There were three World Pool "Moment of the Day" awards handed out, as well as £1,000 and a bottle of champagne to the racing staff who looked after the winning...

Stamina was the prime requirement in Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. on the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and Sunderland Holding's Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Soho Rose {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}) came through with under a perfectly-judged ride from Tom Marquand. Settled third early several lengths off the lone leader Urban Artist (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), the William Haggas-trained 9-4 second favourite who was last seen finishing runner-up in the G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock July 2 enjoyed a cool ride and was in front...

The elite-level contests are done, track records have tumbled and Goodwood's five-day bonanza concludes with the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. taking centre stage at the Sussex venue on Saturday. The £300,000 14-furlong distaffers' test has fallen to favourites in six of the last nine editions and this year's market is headed by Sunderland Holding's G2 Lancashire Oaks runner-up Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Coolmore and Westerberg's G1 Irish Oaks fourth Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The former's stamina is not in question, according to William...

Despite all the top-level contests being done at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Friday's action at the Sussex venue is almost as compelling with the G2 King George Qatar S. the fast and frenzied feature. Now that Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is in a deserved retirement, one of Britain's fastest five-furlong sprints is looking for a new ruler but at present he is not instantly recognisable in the void left by Shadwell's super-charged performer. Perhaps the best to hope for is an engaging spectacle as the July 2 G3 Sandown...

Class has told all week so far at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and on Thursday it was the turn of TDN Rising Star Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to excel in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. Sent off the 6-5 favourite having loped to post like an old hand under Hollie Doyle, Imad Al Sagar's G1 Prix de Diane heroine cruised from rear down the outer to swoop on the front end with a furlong remaining and assert for an ultimately-comfortable 1 3/4-length success from the 40-1 outsider Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner...

Twelve months on from the confirmation of his potency in the G3 Thoroughbred S. at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Shadwell's Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) returns to the famous Downs as a relative giant as he pursues ever higher ground in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. While his tally of four straight Group 1 wins--in the Prix du Moulin, the QEII, the Lockinge and Queen Anne--is highly commendable, it is still shy of the five achieved by the likes of Dubai Millennium (GB), Enable (GB), Giant's Causeway...