Goodwood Saturday

GOODIE Two Shoes (Joseph O’Brien/ Dylan Browne McMonagle) had to wait for room in the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, but the daughter of Fastnet Rock found generously once the gap came and was produced to perfection to deny Santorini Star (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) in the very last stride.

The winning margin was a nose, with favourite Waardah (Owen Burrows/Callum Rodriguez) just a head further back in third, and the first three pulled over three lengths clear of the remainder.

Santorini Star made the running and kicked for home early in the straight, while Waardah, keen enough in the early stages, made her move wider out and briefly looked as if she might sweep past the leader. Goodie Two Shoes, however, travelled into the race behind that pair and, switched into daylight entering the final furlong, stayed on strongest of all.

Returned at 8/1, she was gaining a deserved pattern success for owner/breeders J.P. and Noreen McManus, while the race proved another reminder of the fine margins that can split glory from despair around Goodwood.

Dylan Browne McMonagle mentioned that the key to Goodie Two Shoes is fast ground, adding: “She’s been improving with each run this season and I was very confident she would run a good race… and thankfully she got her head down. It’s been a great week and well done to J.P.; they’re very special silks to be putting on.”

Asked about the prospect of the winner going to the Melbourne Cup, he replied: “That’s probably the main aim, I’m guessing. She ran a great race there and I’m sure that’s probably her main target.”

ENFJAAR (Roger Varian/Ray Dawson) had looked a little short of his best in two starts earlier in the season, but he bounced back in authoritative fashion to make all in the Group 3 Coral Glorious Stakes.

The six-year-old was sent off at 8/1 in a race that looked to have plenty of depth, but Dawson was allowed to dictate matters from the front and, having steadily wound up the tempo from over three furlongs out, Enfjaar found enough when pressed to beat favourite Opportunity (William Haggas/James Doyle) by a length and a quarter, with the runner-up’s stablemate Al Aasy (Tom Marquand) a further length away in his attempt to win the race for a third successive year.

This was the winner’s first try at a mile and a half and his first win since landing the John Smith’s Cup at York in July 2024. He holds no entries, but can be expected to continue at this trip now he’s proven his stamina for it.

“It was a great ride from Ray,” said Varian. “It was the first time Enfjaar was going a mile and a half, so maybe the trainer should have pulled his finger out and got his trip right a couple of years ago!

“You don’t necessarily want to be in front stepping up in trip, but there didn’t look to be a lot of pace on and we said that if he broke on terms and relaxed, to ride the situation. The horse has got the best chance of getting the trip if he is relaxed, regardless of his position. I did say to the owners this morning that, if this worked, it was going to open up a few new doors.”

EVENING Saigon (Hamad Al Jehani/James Doyle) continued a memorable week for Wathnan Racing when landing the £250,000 Coral Stewards’ Cup, giving his trainer a notable big handicap double after Archivist’s win in Friday’s Golden Mile.

Much of the pre-race talk had suggested that high numbers would hold sway, but the 16/1 winner was drawn in stall 10 and proved strongest on the far side, edging right under pressure but keeping on gamely to beat Stratusnine (Hugo Palmer/David Probert) by a head.

The big field split into two main groups, with Evening Saigon and Stratusnine fighting out the finish on the far side, while Mitbaahy (Charles Hills/Jamie Spencer) came storming through to win the stands-side race and finish third overall, beaten only a head and a short head.

Completely Random (Harry Charlton/Ryan Moore) was another who finished strongly from off the pace to take fourth. Toca Madera was the notable hard-luck story in fifth after repeatedly meeting trouble before getting daylight late.

On the up

Evening Saigon’s win confirms that the Al Jehani operation is now a serious force in Britain’s most competitive handicaps, while for Wathnan it was another prestigious success at a meeting that has become something of a showcase for their growing strength.

Al Jehani said: “I am very happy for Evening Saigon and very happy for the team. He performed very well at Royal Ascot, and it was the right decision from the management to keep him for the Stewards’ Cup. It is really important for us and a really important race for the season. I am very happy, and thanks to James for giving the horse a great ride.

“It is not easy to be competitive with the best trainers in the world, but we try our best. I think we are building in a very good way, with great help from the management. Hopefully, we will improve year by year and can get Wathnan into the winner’s enclosure more and more.”

Wathnan Racing had also struck in the opening Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap with Hopewell Rock (George Boughey/Ryan Moore), who justified confidence to beat Small Fry by three-quarters of a length.

Boughey suggested York could be the next port of call, with the son of New Bay getting a 4lb penalty for this win, which guarantees he will get into the field for the Ebor.

THERE were listed races at Newmarket on Saturday and Chester on Sunday, with the Chalice Stakes at “HQ” going to Godolphin home-bred Romantic Symphony (Charlie Appleby/Billy Loughnane), the 5/4 favourite.

A full-sister to the Nassau Stakes and Prix de l’Opera winner Wild Illusion, Romantic Symphony was gaining winning blacktype for the first time, having been placed at the same level at Longchamp in June.

Andrew Balding was the star act at Chester on Sunday, saddling a treble on the card that included the feature Queensferry Stakes with 6/1 chance Simplify (Oisin Murphy) for owners Ahmad Alkhallafi and Marc Waters.

The daughter of Profitable had won two handicaps earlier in the season before finishing down the field at Royal Ascot and was suited by the return to a sharper track, as she edged out Calico Blue by a head.