Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1)

THE Group 1 Sussex Stakes was expected to go to Field Of Gold, but it was that colt’s pacemaker, the 150/1 outsider Qirat (Ralph Beckett/Richard Kingscote) who ended up springing the biggest shock in the history of the pattern, his SP beating the previous 100/1 record price for a Group 1 winner held by Sole Power when winning the 2010 Nunthorpe Stakes.

Qirat, who had trailed home when blinkered in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, bounced straight back, helped by being able to gain a soft lead initially, with the other pacemaker, Serengeti, missing the break.

The latter was rushed up after his slow start, but getting a tow into the straight was almost certainly a blessing for Qirat, who was able to track Serengeti with the rest of the field detached despite the pace not being strong.

Rosallion (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) was best placed of the chasing group and ran on well to finish a neck second, perhaps unlucky given the ground he and the others conceded to the winner.

Henri Matisse (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) was third, while John Gosden had no initial excuses for Field Of Gold, but it later transpired that the 1/3 favourite was lame.

Cracking year

Winning jockey Richard Kingscote told ITV Racing: “It’s turning into a cracking year. Ultimately, we were there as a helping hand to go an even gallop. We were ignored early and then I took a lead off Wayne.

“The horse likes the track, and he was always going to do his best. I feel like a villain, but I was glad it wasn’t a grey head [Field Of Gold] coming at me late on and he just kept on going.”

Beckett, who was saddling a double on the card, said: “He did his job; we set out to go 12-second furlongs and that’s what he did. They didn’t come and sit close to him and today is the end result.

“When the race closed, I actually asked Barry Mahon if we could enter him because he was working so well. He was seen as a pacemaker but he’s a real Goodwood specialist, and Richard is very good in this role. He’s always been a terrific judge of the clock.

“I’ve always been glad to have him on our side and the horse loves this place. It didn’t go right in the Hunt Cup, and I put blinkers on, that was an error.”

Beckett said: “What a mare [Emulous] has been for us, to come up with Bluestocking and now this. She’s been like a cash machine for us, so I’m thrilled to bits! I’m sorry it didn’t work out for Field Of Gold, but it’s a horse race - anything can happen.”

SUCCESSFUL on her first three starts for Ger Lyons, Lady Iman (Ryan Moore) found Beautify too strong in the Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh in June, but the drop back in trip worked the oracle as she regained winning ways with a handsome success in the Group 2 Molecomb Stakes.

Lady Iman travelled very strongly in the early stages as Dickensian set the early tempo and the race was quickly in the bag when Moore asked her to take control a furlong out, with Argentine Tango (Tim Easterby/David Allan) keeping on for second and Dickensian (Kevin Ryan/Shane Gray) third.

The margins were a length and a half, and half a length and the winner was returned the 11/8 favourite.

Very fast

Moore told ITV Racing: “She’s obviously been held in high regard and is a very fast filly.

“She was cantering all over the back of them at the two, and I ended up getting there too early, but I didn’t want to take her back and then for something to go wrong.”

Lyons added: “It’s great - I’m delighted. I dropped the ball and didn’t listen to Colin, who always said she was all speed.

“I’m delighted for Tony O’Callaghan, who is a super owner and a tremendous breeder. She’s been very straightforward from day one.

“We will look at Doncaster next and I’d like to go back to the Breeders’ Cup with a special filly like her.”

Beckett pair share spoils

THE Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes for fillies and mares was another race for the record books, this time with the anoraks trying to find out if two stablemates had ever dead-heated for a stakes race, as that’s what happened when the judge couldn’t separate Ralph Beckett’s pair Saqqara Sands (Rossa Ryan) and Tabiti (Ryan Moore), with the fillies returned at 16/1 and 9/2 respectively.

Tabiti and Moore led for much of the contest and still had the edge as the field entered the final furlong, but Saqqara Sands responded well to Ryan’s driving to join her on the post. The initial feeling was that Ryan had timed his run to perfection, but the replay showed that Tabiti rallied when passed close home, and the photo confirmed that her late lunge allowed her to share the spoils. Favourite Bright Thunder (Karl Burke/Sam James) was half a length away in third.

Beckett told ITV Racing: “I’ve definitely not had a dead-heat with two of my horses before! They are two really tough fillies.

“This race can be something of a bun fight - a horse was taken down last year - but we got our tactics right for once. It’s brilliant. I wasn’t overjoyed with Tabiti’s run in the Fillies’ Mile last year, but the blinkers have made the difference. Saqqara Sands is just very tough.”

Rossa Ryan said of Saqqara Sands: “I just couldn’t quite get far enough in front of the other horse in the blinkers to make her know she was in front. It’s vital for her pedigree and for her breeder, John Deer - it’s great.”