Goodwood Races
Day 2 of Qatar Goodwood Festival came with a huge Qatari victory when H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz won the G1 Qatar International Stakes for purebred Arabians.
Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, H E Yousef bin Ali Al Khater, presented the trophy to Al Shahania Stud Director Abdulrahman Al Mansour as well as the winning trainer and jockey.
Also present on the day were, Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, President of the Qatar and the Asian Equestrian Federations Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi and QREC Board Members.
H E Al Khater confirmed that the Qatar Goodwood Festival is developing one year after another as a result of the ongoing partnership between Goodwood Racecourse and QREC, and that this partnership has brought about many positive outcomes.
“When Qatar got the right to sponsor this prestigious Festival in 2015, the question was what Qatar would benefit from such sponsorship,” he said
“Five years after the start of this sponsorship, the answer has become quite clear. The benefits which Qatar has gained from sponsoring this event are numerous. The event has been held since 1802, and therefore has its traditions and heritage.
The sponsorship has contributed to strengthening the partnership between Qatar and the United Kingdom in various fields, including the sports one represented by horseracing and the equestrian sport, which is one of the multiple sides of the partnership with the British side.”
Ebraz makes it third-time lucky
H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz won a thrilling renewal of the prestigious £400,000 G1 Qatar International Stakes for purebred Arabians.
Ridden by Maxime Guyon, the Julian Smart-trained six-year-old finished with a flourish to win the mile event by two and three-quarter lengths. The H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Tayf was the runner-up with Olivier Peslier in the saddle. The Karen Van Den Bos-trained Lightning Bolt was third. He was ridden by Tadhg O’Shea.
“We came back to try and win this race with Ebraz again this year … This particular race is huge and we have won it now so it is even more important. The Qatar Goodwood Festival is a very prestigious meeting and to have an Arabian race within the meeting is very important. It gives us a wider audience and allows people to watch our racing,” Smart said.
Al Shahania Stud Director Abdulrahman Al Mansour expressed his great pleasure with Ebraz’s winning the Qatar International Stakes.
“It is the first victory for Ebraz at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. We had tried more than once to win the title and managed to do it today. It is certainly special because it coincides with Gazwan’s victory at Newbury a few days ago, which means that Al Shahaniya Stud dominates the Arabian racing scene in the UK.”
Unibet Goodwood Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
Timoshenko provided the legendary Newmarket trainer Sir Mark Prescott with a 14th victory in July following his gutsy success in the £50,000 Unibet Goodwood Handicap this afternoon. Ridden by Luke Morris, the four-year-old son of Archipenko wore down the William Knight-trained Seinesational in the closing stages of the extended two mile and four furlong event to score by a neck. The Roger Charlton-trained True Destiny was third. Timoshenko was registering his sixth victory in succession on his first start since August 2018.
Unibet Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
Sir Ron Priestley won the £75,000 Unibet Handicap to become trainer Mark Johnston 79th winner at the famous meeting.
Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Gr 3)
The John Quinn-trained Liberty Beach recorded her fourth win from five starts with a smart success in the £75,000 G3 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes.
Too Darn Hot lands Qatar Sussex Stakes (Gr 1)
Too Darn Hot won yesterday’s £1,059,250 G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes.
Too Darn Hot was nudged to victory by Frankie Dettori, who was riding his 11th G1 win of a memorable year. The partnership beat the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo Circus Maximus and I Can Fly by half a length and a length and a quarter in the mile-long contest.
Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Race (Class 2)
Middleham trainer Mark Johnston became the joint-winning most trainer of all time at the meet, along with Sir Michael Stoute, after registering his 80th success at the meeting courtesy of Mrs Bouquet in the £50,000 European Breeders Fund Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Race.
British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap
The Simon Crisford-trained Mannaal provided the Newmarket trainer with a first success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in the £30,000 British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap.
New & Lingwood Handicap
The Richard Hannon-trained Dirty Rascal captured the final race on Day 2 of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the £ 25,000 New & Lingwood Handicap. Ridden by Tom Marquand, the three-year-old son of Acclamation measured by a neck in the seven-furlong handicap, defeating Clive Cox’s Salute The Soldier.