THE Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes was the feature on Friday and the downhill five furlongs at Goodwood always provides a fine spectacle.

The race has gone to some sprinting stars in recent years and fell to an improver this time with smart handicapper JM Jungle (John & Sean Quinn/Jason Hart) showing plenty of dash to beat She’s Quality (Jack Davison/James Ryan) by a neck, with half a length back to Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals (Harry Eustace/Richard Kingscote) in third.

The field split into two groups, with the larger portion – which included the first three home – racing on the far side of the track, while Khaadem led a quartet near the opposite rail.

JM Jungle was drawn in stall 1 and the well-backed 14/1 shot was always in the vanguard, travelling comfortably.

He kept on well for victory, although She’s Quality was arguably unlucky, having to tack across from stall 8 as the field split, which cost her more ground than she was beaten.

The winner showed his liking for a downhill five furlongs when winning the “Dash” at Epsom on Derby Day before a creditable third to Washington Heights in the City Walls Stakes at York.

That was a listed race, and he is worth crediting with some improvement for winning this Group 2 contest, for all it serves to illustrate how congested the sprint division is in terms of quality.

There may be no outstanding performer currently, but there are a host of speedy horses who can win on their day.

Winnable

Co-trainer Sean Quinn said: “Sometimes certain races in the sprint division can be winnable and this looked one.

“When the rain came yesterday it looked as though it might inconvenience some of them whereas this horse always shows up.

“I think he probably loves really fast ground. If you look at the Ebor Meeting last year it was really quick ground, but he is versatile as he has put up a career best there.

Asked how this compared to the stable’s previous King George winner Highfield Princess. Quinn added: “That was easier watching as she never looked like getting beat.

“I was willing for the line to come in the last furlong, and it did, but he toughed it out as when the second came to him he went again.

“These horses are hard to come by. For him to turn up on a day like this is massive. We certainly didn’t feel he would run badly as he is a horse that always turns up and always gives his all.

“If you don’t put your hat in the ring, you have no chance so we thought we would give it a go. I was hopeful he could make the jump up in grade. He is much stronger this year.”

RAIN after declarations turned the going soft on Friday with the result that there were a large number of ground-related withdrawals, including two of the six declarations for the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes.

None of the riders looked keen to press on early and it was Seagulls Eleven (Hugo Palmer/Oisin Murphy) who led into the straight by dint of taking the inside line.

Murphy only asked for maximum effort passing the two-furlong pole and the race turned into a sprint from that point, with the others threatening, but ultimately failing, to get on terms.

At the line, Seagulls Eleven (11/4) had three-parts of a length and half a length to spare over Diego Ventura (Hamad Al Jehani/James Doyle) and King Of Cities (Richard Hannon/Ryan Moore), with Cosmic Year (5/2) last having been unable to gain a clear run.

Palmer said: “I’ve just about recovered from his dad [Galileo Gold] being beaten in the Sussex Stakes and it has taken 10 years!

“We probably over-faced him a bit last year, but he is a very generous horse, and you could see they weren’t getting past him there. Gelding him has made a bit of difference.

“I think he goes on any ground. He ran well on soft ground the first time out and Harry Davies, who rode him that day, said he is a better mover on fast ground.”

Asked about future plans, Palmer added: “The Golden Eagle in Sydney has been mentioned, so why not have a go? It is a 10 million dollar race; when can you say that in England? We could talk about supplementing him for the City Of York, which he is not in, or the Celebration Mile back here. I’ve not really thought beyond today.”

Treble up

Oisin Murphy was the jockey to follow on Friday, landing a treble courtesy of Kyle Of Lochalsh (Hughie Morrison) in the Goodwood Handicap, Seagulls Eleven in the Thoroughbred Stakes and Fox Legacy (Andrew Balding) in the conditions race, that horse following up last month’s lucrative success in the John Smith’s Cup at York.

The Coral Golden Mile was the day’s big handicap and although decimated by non-runners, provided a popular winner in the shape of course specialist Rhoscolyn for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope in the colours of The Horse Watchers.

Well backed after Thursday’s rain answered his owners’ prayers, the seven-year-old was returned at an SP of 11/2.