Qatar Sussex stakes

(Group 1)

ON the wettest, nastiest afternoon many Goodwood regulars could remember, favourite backers suffered another body blow as 8/13 chance Ribchester was beaten by a neck by 20/1 outsider Here Comes When in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes on Wednesday.

Aidan O’Brien delayed his decision about Churchill’s participation until the swirling wind and driving rain forced his hand. The ground was certainly far softer than anything the dual Guineas winner had encountered and pulling him out was the right move.

It meant that Ribchester would start at odds-on but, in a messy affair, the Lockinge and Queen Anne Stakes winner could never open up a big enough lead under William Buick and from two furlongs out he was clearly under pressure.

Here Comes When was driven into a narrow lead by Jim Crowley as they passed the furlong pole, with Lightning Spear upsides. Ribchester was looking for room towards the stands’ rails as Frankie Dettori on French raider Zelzal tried to find a way through on his inner and for a moment it looked as if the favourite might finish only third.

Buick eased him slightly, with precious little room in which to manoeuvre, but then Ribchester picked up and ran on again without reaching the winner. Lightning Spear was three-parts of a length away, followed by Zelzal and Toscanini, who again failed to break smartly enough to give Ribchester a lead.

None of this should detract from Here Comes When’s victory, although trainer Andrew Balding admitted he was expecting to come third, at best.

The seven-year-old is just as likely to be found in listed mile handicaps these days and was entered for one here on Friday but very soft ground has always suited him and proved a key factor.

“He was always travelling strongly through the race and that gave him a chance of being placed, though I thought Lightning Spear would beat him and then Ribchester,” Balding said. “He loves the ground, likes the track and has been in great form this year. Jim thought we would be in the first three and gave him a great ride.

Balding went on: “He won two Group 2s as a four-year-old and has always been a handy horse but needs these conditions. It’s one of my more improbable Group 1 triumphs but he was 20/1, so not completely unfancied. I’m very happy for Jim and Fitri Hay, who have been wonderful owners for us. They also love Goodwood.”

Crowley smiled: “It’s tough conditions, it’s tough going, it’s proper heavy jumping ground.” Crowley knows wherof he speaks, having been a Natonal Hunt jockey himself before switching to the flat and becoming champion, of course.

Buick is excellent with the media and spoke at some length after winning the following race.

“From the three to the two he didn’t really go anywhere like he usually does,” he said. “The ground is very bad out there and I suppose that didn’t help him at all.

“He was really struggling to pick his feet up and, instead of galloping forwards, he was kind of stumbling forwards. Then he gathered himself up, the winner stopped near the line and it helped us get closer. It was an unsatisfactory race.”

“If you could back winners today you would be a genius,” added Ribchester’s trainer Richard Fahey. “It’s why bookmakers love conditions like this. They get odd results and they got one today. I’m disappointed, of course I am, but he has shown good heart and has run a mighty race to nearly get back up again.”