The Peninsula
The curtain fell on the 2019 renewal of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday, at one the world’s most beautiful racecourses, which has been home for racing for over 200 years.
The finale the five-day Festival, which had a seven-race card, including six races sponsored by Qatar, was a fitting one with thousands of spectators at Goodwood and top level racing throughout the day.
QREC officials were present and crowned the winners of the races. President of the Qatar and the Asian Equestrian Federations and QREC Vice-Chairman, Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, QREC Chief Executive Officer Nasser, bin Sherida Al Kaabi, QREC Board Member, Abdulla bin Mohmmed Al Kuwari and QREC Racing Manager, Abdulla bin Rashid Al Kubaisi presented the trophies to the winners of the QREC-sponsored races.
Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
Trainer Ruth Carr and jockey James Sullivan both enjoyed a first ever Goodwood winner when Poyle Vinnie won the £75,000 Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap. The nine-year-old beat the David Barron-trained Venturous by a neck, with last year’s winner Tommy G, trained by Jim Goldie, third in the six-furlong race. QREC Racing Manager Al Kubaisi crowned the winners.
Qatar Summer Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
The very admirable King’s Advice put up a brave performance to win the one mile, six-furlong, £100,000 Qatar Summer Handicap. Ridden by Joe Fanning, the son of Frankel saw off the Simon Crisford-trained Outbox by a neck, giving his trainer Mark Johnston a sixth winner of the 2019 edition of the Festival. The Andrew Balding-trained Shailene was third. Al Kuwari presented the winner’s trophy.
Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes(Gr2)
Enbihaar excelled with a runaway five-length win in the £312,000 G2 Qatar Lilie Langtry Stakes. She was trainer John Gosden’s fourth winner of the Qatar Goodwood Festival from only eight runners. She was ridden to victory by Jim Crowley in the one mile, six-furlong. The Ralph Beckett-trained Manuela De Vega was second and the Aidan O’Brien-trained South Sea Pearl was third. AEF and QEF Chief Al Attiyah crowned the winners.
Qatar EBF Stallion Maiden Stakes (Class 2)
Persuasion made an impressive debut trainer Charlie Hills, winning the £30,000 Qatar EBF Stallion Maiden Stakes. Ridden by James Doyle, he overcame a slow start to win by half a length from the Paul Cole-trained Celtic Art and complete a double for the stable, which has now had four winners at the meeting. The Ralph Beckett-trained Great Ambassador was third the seven-furlong run. QREC CEO Al Kaabi presented the trophies to the winners.
Qatar Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
Land Of Legends’ win in the seven-furlong, £30,000 Qatar Handicap was a first at the Goodwood Festival for jockey Callum Shepherd, who was brought up locally. Land Of Legends, a three-year-old son on Iffraaj beat the William Muir-trained Jack’s Point by a length and three-quarters.
The Mark Johnston-trained Warning Fire was third. Al Kuwari crowned the winners
Qatar Apprentice Handicap Stakes (Class 2) 1m1f
Gift Of Gold, with Cieren Fallon in the saddle won the one mile, one-furlong, £25,000 Qatar Apprentice Handicap Stakes, beating the A J Perret-trained You’re Hired by one and three quarters of a length. The P F I Cole-trained Rotherwick was third. QREC Racing Manager Al Kubaisi presented the trophies to the winners.
Unibet Stewards Cup Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
Khaadem had an easy victory in the £250,000 Unibet Stewards’ Cup for trainer Charlie Hills and jockey Jim Crowley.
Khaadem carried 9st 6lb to his two and three-quarter lengths triumph over the Amanda Perrett-trained Open Wide - the highest weight ever carried to victory in the race by a three-year-old.