Tag: G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup

Nathaniel’s Quickthorn In Brilliant Goodwood Cup Solo

Maybe the fact that it is so demanding means that it can only be a once-a-year thing, but Lady Blyth's Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}–Daffydowndilly {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) is a joy to behold when he delivers his runaway train impression and Goodwood's gathering had a full two miles to appreciate it again on Tuesday as he turned the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup into a one-horse show.

As he had last August when issuing a 14-length beating to Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup over this two-mile trip, the Hughie Morrison-trained Secretariat of the stayers was allowed to stride on at the pace he is comfortable at by Tom Marquand but which is simply too quick for the rest of this division's leading protagonists.

Turning for home, the yawning gap was still too sizeable for any to bridge and by the time the 16-1 shot hit the line there was still six lengths back to the nearest in the pursuing blanket. That turned out to be Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who denied Coltrane the silver medal by a short head, with the G1 Gold Cup-winning 2-1 favourite Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) only sixth in a race that will be cherished for many years for the sheer audacity of the winning performance.

“He's a fun horse to ride,” Marquand said. “There's no masterplan with him. Down at the gates Frankie looked across and laughed and said 'are you going to drop in?' He goes out wearing his heart on his sleeve and everybody knows what he's going to do and they still can't stop him. It is testament to how good he is. He's had some great days, but he deserved a Group 1 and it would have felt wrong if he had never got one.”

By the time Quickthorn had demolished the opposition in the Lonsdale Cup last August, he was on a three-timer having also garnered the G3 Henry II S. at Sandown and ParisLongchamp's G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil. As if that effort took him past his limit, his following three outings which included a disappointing no-show in the G1 Prix du Cadran had seen his stock fall and that York tour de force seem an aberration. It all came back together again as he returned to the Knavesmire for the 14-furlong Listed Grand Cup last time, as he was able to turn back the subsequent G2 Princess of Wales's S. winner Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and while there was much upside to that form this was a deep Goodwood Cup and most were happy to overlook him.

What was remarkable about this performance was that Quickthorn actually ran at the right tempo throughout having shown alacrity on this tricky circuit to gain a huge four-second gap or just over 20 lengths on everything after the first mile. Given a breather out in isolation from seven to five out, he was asked to go again from there and instead of caving in continued to churn out sectionals strong enough to ensure the margin never approached being cut back. The gap to Coltrane et al was 15 lengths three furlongs from home and while he was almost 2 1/2 seconds slower than Emily Dickinson from there to the line, she was too far back to make a genuine difference.

Quickthorn's final three-furlong percentage was an almost bang-on 101.45%, while Emily Dickinson was at 108.63%, so that means that the leader was ridden ideally and the filly was given too much to do along with the next four home who finished in a tight bunch. Perhaps the main reason why such class horses got so far adrift was the relatively slow pace set by Oisin Murphy as he lead the peloton, determined not to provide Frankie with a target as he had at Royal Ascot. The others trusted Murphy's judgement and ultimately paid for it.

On the back of some remarkable staying performances in the last 12 months, from the Cadran win of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to the Northumberland Plate success of Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and all the parts played by the scene's other main actors Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Coltrane, this was something else. Marquand's ride will be recalled for some time to come and he was quick to pardon those in behind in the aftermath.

“It's easy to say in hindsight, but I wouldn't be putting down other riders in behind as you would be doing them a disservice–I would be giving this lad credit for going such a gallop,” he explained. “If I was in behind I would have done the same. He's a relentless galloper and you think 'no horse can keep that up' but it's a case of going and finding a rhythm and wherever that puts you, it puts you. Obviously we showed that in the Lonsdale Cup last year and it just feels like the right way to ride him.”

Hughie Morrison said, “I was amazed he was that price, but we don't mind. We were pretty bullish today and no one was prepared to be the chaser, but had they been they would have probably not got there and then finished out the back. He's got a huge stride and I'd love to do an analysis on that, as it would be something for posterity I think, and he's quite quick. When you cover that kind of ground, it's psychologically hard work for the others to get there.”

“It's great to see that York last year wasn't a fluke and the Lonsdale was like a Group 1, but the opposition didn't turn up,” his trainer added. “I'm sure we would have dealt with Stradivarius and Trueshan there as we dealt with the others today and he was as straight as a die at the end–you wondered if something had come to him he would have picked up again. He's quite hard on himself at home–every other horse has to do about three strides for his one–and so probably in the autumn, he seems to go over the top. That's fair enough after you see what he does on days like today, so we're probably quite nervous about going into the autumn with him again. He's in the Lonsdale again and he'll have a penalty this year, he's got an entry in Ireland [in the G1 Irish St Leger].”

Paying tribute to the owner-breeders, Morrison concluded, “It is fantastic for James and Pam [Blyth], who bred him and it's fantastic to see they kept him and owned him. They have been very patient with him and we've got our rewards. We don't have a huge amount of horses, 50 or 60, and it's fantastic to train these homebreds and to be able to bring them on so they reach their zenith at the right sort of age. Lady Blyth has bred a Grade 1 winner over jumps and a Group 1 winner now–not many people have done that.”

Oisin Murphy saw the damage was done early on as he pondered the ride on Coltrane, who had similarly never got anywhere near the winner at York last year. “It was obvious in the first furlong that Lone Eagle, Tashkhan and Broome–those horses you'd expect to go forward–weren't going forward, so I changed my plan and decided to let Coltrane roll down to the first turn,” he explained. “I thought Tom was very clever around those sharp bends, he allowed Quickthorn to really slip on. You can only go so fast around those turns, because they are quite sharp and by the time we turned to go back uphill, he had a sizeable advantage.”

“He had to use up a fair bit of energy, albeit basically going downhill, to get away from us but often you pay for that sort of ride and in the last furlong I wasn't sure if he would stop completely. I probably cost myself second position by trying to close the gap from three down. Quickthorn has a massive pair of lungs and covers so much ground, so he has enough pace to get away from a high-class field. I was aware of what could happen and he was still able to do it.”

Pedigree Notes

Lord and Lady Blyth's Daffydowndilly, who also has the improving 4-year-old gelding City Streak (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) with Andrew Balding who took a valuable 12-furlong handicap at Ascot on Friday, is a daughter of Art Eyes (Halling) who captured the Listed Noel Murless S. and was second in this meeting's Lillie Langtry S. when it was staged as a Group 3. From an old Aga Khan family, she has the yearling filly Tardaff (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and a colt foal Scarlet Legend (GB) who is a full-brother to Quickthorn.

 

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
AL SHAQAB GOODWOOD CUP-G1, £500,000, Goodwood, 8-1, 3yo/up, 16fT, 3:33.65, g/s.
1–QUICKTHORN (GB), 137, g, 6, by Nathaniel (Ire)
                1st Dam: Daffydowndilly (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
                2nd Dam: Art Eyes, by Halling
                3rd Dam: Careyes (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
   1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Lady Blyth; B-Lemington Grange Stud
(GB); T-Hugh Morrison; J-Tom Marquand. £283,550. Lifetime
Record: GSW-Fr, 22-9-3-1, $1,005,333. Werk Nick Rating:
   A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Emily Dickinson (Ire), 134, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Chicquita (Ire),
by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J
Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Chicquita Syndicate
(IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £107,500.
3–Coltrane (Ire), 137, g, 6, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Promise Me
(Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (50,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Mick
and Janice Mariscotti; B-Rockfield Farm (IRE); T-Andrew
Balding. £53,800.
Margins: 6, SHD, SHD. Odds: 16.00, 4.50, 3.00.
Also Ran: Eldar Eldarov (GB), Giavellotto (Ire), Courage Mon Ami (GB), Broome (Ire), Tashkhan (Ire), Lone Eagle (Ire), Ocean Wind (GB), Enemy (GB). VIDEO.

 

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Goodwood: English Rain? Courage Mon Ami

While the 2023 English summer staggers on in dour misery, Britain looks to the Qatar Goodwood Festival which in terms of the weather is a far cry from its prior “Glorious Goodwood” standing but in terms of thoroughbred quality is up there with any of its counterparts. This week, we get to see the Royal Ascot heroes Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the likes of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), to name a few. If the rain that presaged the action at Ascot last week continues, soft-ground specialists will be the order of each day with the opening fixture set to take place on good-to-soft, soft in places.

That makes the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup even more of a stamina test than usual, which should be no hindrance to Wathnan Racing's Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami given how strongly he saw out that race over a further half a mile. Pointed here instead of the same connections' 3-year-old option Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), the Gosdens' unbeaten representative has experience of this tricky circuit having won a handicap here in May.

“John [Gosden] was keen to train both him and Gregory for the race and soft ground or probable soft ground swayed the decision towards running Courage Mon Ami, while Gregory will now take a different route, with his main aim being the St Leger,” the owners' racing adviser Richard Brown said. “He's back in trip, but he won there impressively before the Gold Cup and we know he handles the track. I don't think it will be a problem coming back to two miles, it was always the question before Ascot if he would he stay two and a half.”

Fourth here last year, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is back an improved horse and has just 3/4 of a length to turn around with Courage Mon Ami from the Gold Cup. Oisin Murphy believes the high-class veteran has conditions in his favour to do so. “All the signs at home are positive and I think this two miles will suit him better than the two and a half at Ascot,” he said. “I don't think the quick ground was a problem in the Gold Cup as he obviously let himself down on it, but we know from his past form that he enjoys some dig in the ground, so that's a plus for him.”

Also helped by the rain is Ballydoyle's Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who bounced out of the Gold Cup in which she was fourth to win last Sunday's G2 Curragh Cup. “She loved the ease in the ground at the Curragh,” Aidan O'Brien said. “She comes out of races on fast ground perfectly, which suggests it does not bother her, but she appears much better with an ease in the ground.” In a deep renewal, the first four home from the G2 Yorkshire Cup re-oppose with the winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) a fresh horse and the runner-up Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) back on a more suitable surface after flopping in the Gold Cup.

Marco Botti is hoping that Giavellotto can repay the resisted temptation to run at the Royal meeting. “He won well at York and it has always been the plan to skip the Gold Cup at Ascot and go to Goodwood,” he said. “He is well and his prep has gone to plan, we think he is fit and he looks in good order. We know he stays and we're looking forward to it. Two miles is not an issue, but we felt the Ascot Gold Cup may have stretched him a little bit. He settles well and he looks a stronger horse than last year. I just worry about the ground, I hope it will be nice ground for everyone and not extremes. Good-to-soft would be what he wants.”

All Boxes Ticked For Kinross…
Also on Tuesday is the G2 World Pool Lennox S., the next in the sequence of seven-furlong features which have been enhanced in recent years and which now provide a welcome narrative throughout the season. One of the finest in this category is Marc Chan's TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has the rain and return to the trip over which he is most comfortable to suit. He also has Frankie Dettori back on board, with the partnership temporarily ruptured by a spurious riding ban in the G1 July Cup in which the high-class gelding again showed his versatility to be third. Having beaten Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2021, he was an unlucky second 12 months ago so this is clearly his bag. “There is no doubt this is his best distance,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said of the Ralph Beckett yard's stalwart, who is set to be an integral part of Dettori's farewell tour. “He likes the course and he's justifiably the favourite, even though that doesn't mean he will win the race.”

Of this year's 3-year-olds, Wathnan Racing's G3 Greenham S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks tailor-made for this after finishing fourth on ground that was too fast in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. “He's back to seven and hopefully that will see him in his best light,” Richard Brown said. “He got lit up and things didn't really go to plan at Ascot. I'm not trying to use an excuse and saying he would have won there, but back in trip and back in grade here, he should be thereabouts.”

Revived by a gelding operation last year, Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) showed what he is capable of when making all in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. and the stud's Chris Richardson is hoping he can back that up. “This race is the natural progression really and he came out of the Newmarket race well. He has not been straightforward, but gelding seems to have worked and we are now seeing what we were seeing on the gallops but not on the racecourse. It was just one of those rather frustrating things, but it was lovely to see him bounce back and follow up the previous win with such an emphatic success.”

Is Iberian Of The Right Vintage?
In the G2 Nicholson Gin Vintage S., Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Newbury novice scorer Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the less-exposed types who was spared the beating by City Of Troy (Justify) that the Hannon stable's solid yardstick Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) had to endure in the G2 Superlative S. Richard Ryan, racing manager for Teme Valley, said of the former, “We're hopeful we have a nice horse and this race will answer a lot of questions. He is an impressive horse at home and Charlie [Hills] is having a great season with his two-year-olds.”
“He looks to have a number of promising horses, so we are in the slightly excited camp until proven otherwise,” Ryan added. “Although it is probably going to be wet at Goodwood, it's unwatered and well maintained for this meeting and probably with it being the first day, it won't have the same issues the July Course had at the time with conditions in the pouring rain.”

One of the eyecatchers of the Royal Ascot 2-year-old events was Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Golden Mind (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), a half-brother to the fellow Richard Fahey-trained star Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) who was finishing to real effect when third in the Listed Chesham S. over this seven-furlong trip. He gets the Dettori treatment and Fahey has a special wish. “He's a horse that is improving the whole time, he's a bit of a laid-back character and with racing he's going to get better,” his trainer said. “He's in good order and I would love Frankie to ride me a winner before he retires, he's a legend.”

Paddington Set For Select Sussex…
Only five will take on this season's sensation Paddington in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S., the feature race of the meeting, with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Eclipse S. hero scaring off much opposition. One who hasn't been spared is Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while soft ground means that Shadwell at least have an outside chance of another surprise with the William Haggas-trained Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

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Stradivarius Lines Up to Defend Goodwood Cup Title

Now that Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) has managed to establish unquestionable dominance over the older stayers, the popular chestnut has a feat of magnitude to pull off on Tuesday if he is to secure a record fourth renewal of the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. That involves surrendering a 15-pound weight-for-age advantage to a G1 Irish Derby winner in Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who like Bjorn Nielsen’s star did three years ago comes here looking to exploit that anomaly. Weeks before Stradivarius upstaged Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the 2017 edition, he had garnered the G2 Queen’s Vase and there is a symmetry in the fact that Santiago also captured that Royal Ascot contest en route to the June 27 Curragh Classic. With the long-established weight-for-age scale still generally unchallenged as an accurate measurement of relative maturity, this race will serve as one of the more thorough examinations of its logic and continued relevance in recent times.

Due to the lack of commercial value of these emotive staying races, it is rare that a Derby winner or a 3-year-old with significant class even turns up so the analysis of the effect of weight-for-age is limited. There are early indications that Santiago is set to go down the staying route permanently for a Ballydoyle stable already replete with leading middle-distance 3-year-olds and with the speed to win a mile-and-a-half Classic he is the best of his age to tackle this for a long time. Such a sizeable weight pull is almost debilitating, but there is an argument that Stradivarius still has his limitations unexposed and he is a true great based on his 10-length June 18 G1 Gold Cup romp.

John Gosden is well aware of the stiffness of the task at hand and said, “I think he has probably got one of the biggest challenges of his career. If it was run on Aug. 1 he would be giving Santiago 13 pounds, but because it is run at the end of July he is giving 15 pounds to a horse that won stylishly in the Queen’s Vase and went and won an Irish Derby. That is a big ask for Stradivarius–to give 15lb over two miles. Santiago looked pretty quick on his feet to me around Ascot and I think he will handle the track. We know our fellow handles it. We got 13 pounds from Big Orange when Stradivarius won his first Goodwood Cup, so we benefited that year but now the boot is on the other foot. That two pounds could make a difference over two miles if it is a tight finish, I will tell you.”

Aidan O’Brien has had this race in mind for Santiago since his Curragh success and he commented, “We always thought he might be a Cup horse, so we were very gentle with him last year. We thought the race in Ascot would suit him well. You have to have class to win an Irish Derby, but we always felt two miles would be within his grasp this year. We’ve had to be a bit gentle with him since the Curragh, but everything has gone very well. We just thought this would be a lovely race for him between the Irish Derby and the St Leger. Hopefully we’ll learn a lot about him and the horse will learn a lot as well.”

Preceding the Goodwood Cup is the G2 Qatar Lennox S., in which ‘TDN Rising Star’ Space Blues (Ire) headlines a three-strong Dubawi (Ire) challenge from the Charlie Appleby stable. Having beaten his re-opposing stablemate D’bai (Ire) in the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp June 25, last year’s G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third is perfectly poised for this test. D’bai has subsequently won a competitive Haydock conditions race over this seven-furlong trip July 17, while the G2 Hungerford S. and G2 Al Fahidi Fort winner Glorious Journey (GB) makes up a formidable trio for Godolphin.

“Space Blues heads to Goodwood following back-to-back wins and goes there in good shape. We feel that conditions will suit, together with the style of racing at Goodwood,” Appleby said. “Glorious Journey put up solid performances in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. He ran a decent enough race at Goodwood a couple of years ago and conditions should suit him as well. He has a penalty to defy, but this has always been his target. D’bai won at Haydock last time out and heads into this race in good order, although he has to turn around the form with Space Blues from their Longchamp run. He wasn’t beaten far in this race in 2018 and should enjoy the hustle and bustle of it again. Space Blues is the pick of the three on all evidence, but the other two aren’t without chances either.”

Away from the usual suspects, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) is worth another chance to prove his comeback flop when last in Royal Ascot’s G1 Commonwealth Cup June 19. Last year’s G2 Mill Reef S. winner is the sole 3-year-old in the line-up and will provide a gauge as to their relative merit in this niche division.

Ballydoyle supply the favourite for the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. in their precious commodity Battleground (War Front), the son of Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who captured the Listed Chesham S.  at Royal Ascot June 18. Interestingly, he is still the only winner in Britain from this stable in 2020 despite running the likes of More Beautiful (War Front), Admiral Nelson (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Hudson River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “He’s a big, powerful horse with a lovely mind,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He’s very uncomplicated and mentally very easy–he hasn’t shown any issues yet, either mentally or physically. This will be another step in his life. Goodwood is obviously an unusual track, so hopefully he’ll cope with it and if he doesn’t, hopefully he’ll learn from it. Found was an unbelievable mare–so tough it was incredible. She was one filly who would lay her whole soul out for you every day and always the thing with her was not to let her do too much.”

Heading the opposition to Battleground is Russell Jones’s Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), who will be providing evidence as to the merit of his July 11 G2 Superlative S. conqueror Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Beaten three lengths by Godolphin’s promising juvenile in that Newmarket staging post also over this seven-furlong trip, he beat all else including Jaber Abdullah’s sixth-placed King Zain (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and trainer Tom Dascombe is hoping he can also make his mark here.

“He beat a lot of other good horses that day and I think Goodwood should be fine for him,” he said. “He has a bit of experience now, having had the three runs. I wouldn’t want to see too much rain, but I’m pretty confident he’d handle most ground. On distances, weights and measures I think we might have the beating of the favourite on form, but obviously Aidan O’Brien’s horses do tend to improve a lot. I think we go there with a good, solid chance and if the O’Brien horse is better than us then he’ll beat us–it’s as simple as that.”

Click here for the group fields.

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