Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (Group 1)

THE Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup was the highlight of the first day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, and a new staying star emerged in the shape of 4/1 chance Scandinavia (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan).

In winning, he showcased his stamina and willingness by getting the better of favourite and stablemate Illinois (Ryan Moore) by three-parts of a length.

The winner was following up a Group 3 win in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket’s July Meeting and has been slashed in the betting for the St Leger at Doncaster on the back of this success.

The race had a sad postscript, however, when it was revealed that popular stayer Trueshan had to be put down after suffering an injury before the home straight.

O’Brien said: “Wayne gave him a brilliant ride. He ran a lovely race at Ascot and just got trapped too wide and didn’t get there in time, and then Ryan said he felt very classy at Newmarket and that he stays forever.

Very straightforward

“He’s one of those Justifys with lots of class and is so genuine. ‘The lads’ will decide if he runs in the St Leger. This horse looks ready-made for it and he handled the ease in the ground here today - he’s very straightforward.”

True sportsman that he is, O’Brien didn’t simply bask in the glory of success, but was the first to pay tribute to Trueshan, one of the most popular stayers of recent years and the winner of this contest in 2021.

“I’m so sorry for everyone involved with the horse,” said O’Brien. “He had a brilliant career and I’m sure he was looked after better than any human could be. I know Alan took him out of so many races.

“There were so many days when we came racing and Trueshan was there, but then Alan would take him out if he wasn’t 100% happy with the ground.

“For me, racehorses should be kept racing while they can race because that’s what they love to do, but sometimes in life things happen. We don’t understand why they happen, but they do happen. That applies to horses, animals and humans.

“There are times when you have to accept that you’ve done your best and you just have to move on, but I’m sorry for them all.”

ZAVATERI (Eve Johnson Houghton/Charlie Bishop) continued his stable’s fine run when holding the strong late challenge of Morris Dancer (John & Thady Gosden/William Buick) in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes, with the pair pulling a length and three-quarters clear of Do Or Do Not (Ed Walker/Tom Marquand) in third, with that colt beaten a little further than when second to the winner in the July Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the month. Zavateri was returned at 8/1 having had a penalty to carry for that success.

The race changed complexion markedly in the final furlong with the hold-up horses dominating as the early pacemaker dropped away, and it was Zavateri who found most in a tight finish to prevail by a short head.

Disappointment of the race was the 13/8 favourite Dorset, who raced keenly under Ryan Moore and failed to menace on just his second career outing.

Where to go

“I didn’t know where to go,” said Eve Johnson Houghton after the race. “A 3lb penalty makes it damn hard, but where do you go with a Group 2 winner? There are only Group 1s and they’re not until September or October.

“He’s so tough and very, very talented. What a horse. I put him in the Mill Reef in case he didn’t stay and that’s obviously out of the question now and you can’t go with a double penalty somewhere can you - we’ve got to wait for the Group 1s.”

Success

Owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti have enjoyed a deal of success over the years without breaking the bank; they have had to sell some of their better prospects to keep the ownership dream alive, but Mrs Mariscotti feels Zavateri is too special to sell and vowed that the colt would stay with Johnson Houghton

THERE was drama before and during the Group 2 Lennox Stakes, with favourite Kinross withdrawn having been kicked by Audience behind the stalls and then Noble Champion went lame and was pulled up.

But it was Witness Stand (Jamie Insole & Dr Richard Newland/Hollie Doyle), who had tracked leader Quinault and favourite Audience in the early stages, who swept past to gain a decisive initiative.

Lake Forest (William Haggas) made late headway to finish second, with stablemate Audience just holding Quinault for third.

Doyle told ITV Racing: “That was a great training performance. It’s been a great effort to get him back on track and it’s been a team effort from everyone behind the scenes.

“He’s got some good handicap form and he’s a listed winner and, on ratings, he wasn’t far behind Audience, but he did have a lot to prove and he stood up where it mattered! It’s a shock to the system really.”

Emotional

“I’m pretty emotional,” admitted Jamie Insole, who shares the licence and focuses on the stable’s flat runners. “I’ve been trying for a while to get involved in a winner like this - it’s very special to win a race like the Lennox. Grandad was a jockey and a trainer, and my uncle Will Kennedy was a jockey, so it would have made them all very proud today.

“We bought him last year and it went under the radar - we immediately got higher offers for him.

“He broke the track record last time and the ease in the ground here definitely helped him. Luckily, I put him in the Prix de la Foret this morning, so that’s looking a good move now!”

Murphy takes riding honours

The honours were spread evenly on the day, with seven races won by seven different yards, and six jockeys.

Oisin Murphy was the only rider to secure a double, riding the winners of the juvenile maiden (Stellar Sunrise for Andrew Balding) and the concluding fillies’ handicap, won by Saeed Bin Suroor’s Dubai Treasure.