Third in the Ascot Gold Cup, where she nearly caused one of the upsets of the season, she dropped down to a mile and three-quarters, made the best of her way home from some way out and held Arabian Comet by half a length, with Waila only a head behind in third.
At one point she had challengers all around but answered Jim Crowley’s every call and simply would not be denied. It was a great pity to see her pulling up lame, with the jockey dismounting.
Missunited, 3/1 favourite, who is very much the star of Michael Winters’ Co Cork stable and was winning the Galway Hurdle a year ago to the day, was notching her 12th victory in all and the Goodwood crowd cheered her to the echo.
This was a strong field, with the likes of last year’s Oaks winner Talent and Richard Hughes among the vanquished.
“Please God she’ll be all right but she owes us nothing,” Winters said. “She’s one in a lifetime and it’s great to be able to share her with everyone. She’s treated everyone on the National Hunt scene and now she’s doing the same for the flat people.
“I have to say I was a little worried when I saw her high knee action going to the start. She was galloping as fast as she could the whole way and has the heart of a lion. I hope she will be fine after this but if there is anything wrong with her she won’t be asked to go again.”
The seven-year-old, by Golan, was bred by her owner Vanessa Hutch and will return to her stud in due course. Missunited went straight to the racecourse stables for examination after an effort as warming as the whole afternoon.
It was later confirmed by her owners that Missunited had sustained an injury to her suspensory and will be retired to the breeding sheds in Ireland.
Things worked out well for Crowley, who has been associated with Talent in the past. “I think they wanted a change, which is understandable, and I wanted to be on Missunited so it worked out well,” he smiled. He did pick up a two-day whip ban for the ride.
William Haggas will probably send runner-up Arabian Comet to the Galtres Stakes at York.