Glorious Goodwood 2022 saw emerging stars, records broken and fond farewells.
Our ‘long read’ racing review brings you a roundup of the highlights.
Photographs by Ian Yates www.eyewhy.co.uk
TUESDAY
Kyprios lit up Day 1 of Glorious Goodwood as he confirmed himself as the new king of the Staying division by edging out Stradivarius in a stellar renewal of the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.
Kyprios, sent off a 6/4 favourite to follow up his Gold Cup success, was always well-placed under Ryan Moore. The son of Galileo was in pole position throughout the closing stages and gamely held off valiant four-time victor Stradivarius (9/2) by a neck in a thrilling finish, with last year’s winner Trueshan (2/1) a just over a length further back in third.
It was a third win in the race for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who had previously taken the spoils with the outstanding Yeats in 2006 and 2008.
O’Brien said: “Kyprios is a great horse. Ryan gave him a beautiful ride and he is only ever in the gear that you want him. He is always keeping plenty and is a horse that loves a battle.
“He has a lot of class, a lot of quality. He has run over two and a half miles at Royal Ascot and two miles today, but we would have had no problem starting him over a mile and a quarter at the start of the year, as he has that real pace. However, you don’t see it as he doesn’t show it unless you really want it. It’s great to have him. Those type of horses are very special – when you have a horse who stays like that and has that class.”
Moore said: “Kyprios has done nothing wrong this year. Today was only his eighth race and he is only doing what he has to do. It was a steadily-run race and he was in front a long way out. He was just waiting. I always feel that I’m not going to the bottom of him.
“This horse won a Gold Cup at four and I think there’s more to come. We don’t know where we’ll end up yet. You know how good Trueshan is and Stradivarius has been, and the fourth horse Coltrane is improving. I think as far as Goodwood Cups go, it was a very strong race.”
John Gosden said of Stradivarius: “It was superb. Stradivarius was in good form before. He came back in here shouting at Trueshan, so the race didn’t stress him too much.
“We had a lovely position on the inside following Kyprios and then Hollie [Doyle, on Trueshan] thought the pace wasn’t quick enough, so she moved and we went from the outside to the inside. Our only slight frustration is that, because of that, we had to go down the cutaway, were racing on our own and had nothing left to race with.
“Stradivarius is a wise old owl now and he knows when he gets to the front that he has done his bit. At his age, he likes something to run with and has never been a horse to go and win by far.
“He was in the first three in the Gold Cup and won the Yorkshire Cup, so he can still compete at this level.
“Stradivarius will tell us [when he is ready to retire] and that is the key thing. He is the most cheerful horse to come and meet every morning. He comes out playing and shouting, he is a great character.”
WEDNESDAY
Lady Princess (7/4F) became the second dual winner of the G1 Qatar International Stakes for purebred Arabians, quickening smartly to score by a neck from Hattal (7/1), with Samlla (4/1) a further length and a quarter away in third.
Last year’s winner travelled strongly in rear and, although Jim Crowley was forced to wait for an opening, he had so much horse underneath him that his mare picked up immediately once in the clear.
The six-year-old joins Ebraz as the only other horse to win the Arabian Triple Crown race twice, in doing so taking her overall G1 haul to eight for trainer Thomas Fourcy and owner Khalifa bin Shaeil Al Kuwari.
Royal Ascot scorer Secret State (11/4F) continued his rise through the ranks with a fourth successive win and confirmed himself as a potential St Leger contender for Godolphin when defying top-weight in the opening Coral Beaten-By-A-Length Free Bet Handicap.
Baaeed cemented his position as the world’s highest-rated racehorse with a dominant length and three-quarter success in the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, handing trainer William Haggas a first win in the mile highlight.
Sent off the 1/6 favourite, Baaeed was shaken up by Jim Crowley to lead inside the final furlong and pulled away from Classic winner Modern Games (12/1) and last year’s winner Alcohol Free (11/1) in authoritative fashion.
This success takes four-year-old Baaeed’s career record to a remarkable nine wins from nine starts and prize money earnings through the £2 million barrier.
Haggas said: “I am relieved it’s over. Baaeed is such a nice horse. It is a great occasion and I said to Sheikha Hissa beforehand that the only time I’ve been photographed as much was when I walked into the paddock at Meydan and shook hands with her father [Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum]. I can’t tell you how sad it is for all of us that Sheikh Hamdan is not here to witness it. He did everything for days like this and he would have loved it.”
Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, daughter of the late Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “For me and my family, Baaeed means the world. He is a homebred and from the same family of Nashwan and the whole lineage. It’s good to see one of our best horses coming from the family that my father worked so hard on.
“He is a pleasure to have. He loves to work in the morning and it’s nice to see horses from a horse person’s perspective that they enjoy their job.”
Crowley said: “Baaeed just does what he has to. He is like his sire [Sea The Stars]. Just before the winning line, he pricked his ears and shut down with me. Baaeed is never going to be exuberant and win by 10 lengths, but the feeling I got off him between the three and the two-furlong pole, no horse can give you that feel.
“I have ridden some lovely horses, I’ve been very lucky, but this is just on another level.”
THURSDAY
Ladies’ Day at Glorious Goodwood began with the charity race for women only: the Markel Magnolia Cup. The women taking part are not professional jockeys and most will be racing for the first time.
Ashleigh Wicheard, who is a work rider for trainer Neil Mulholland, got a flying start on her mount Dark Shot and never saw another rival to run out a dominant winner.
Outside of racing, Wicheard has worked in specialist schools supporting children with autism, SEMH, and various other behavioural issues, and as a case worker and equine coordinator for a charity supporting young offenders.
The Markel Magnolia Cup supports The Brilliant Breakfast initiative in aid of The Prince’s Trust. The Brilliant Breakfast is a nationwide, fundraising event, run annually for a week in October. It brings together friends, family and colleagues over breakfast, to raise money for young women on The Prince’s Trust programmes across the UK.
Wicheard said: “It was unbelievable. Everybody says it’s like a whirlwind and it really was. I was instructed to get a good start and I just sent him and hoped for the best. I looked round a couple of times because I didn’t want to move in onto the rail if somebody was coming up. Thankfully, I got him out quick enough to get a nice position and I just tried to maintain the speed.
“It is really hard to describe how I feel because one minute it feels real with everything that’s going on, but for the amount of hard work and everything that has been put in – I’ve used all my holiday to ride out for people [and prepare]. I’ve put everything into it. The fact that it has all come out the way it has is unbelievable.”
“I work for Neil Mullholland and do a lot of travelling for him, so when I’m not working there I try and get the training and things in. He [Dark Shot] was brilliant, what a horse. He is an absolute machine.”
On the work she does with vulnerable people in schools and prisons around the UK, utilising therapy with horses, she added: “To be able to see young men transform because of the horse is unbelievable. The horses and the work they do speak for themselves. I’ve spent a lot of time helping other people realise their potential. I thought ‘actually, it’s about time I focused on myself and what am I capable of!’”
Scott Dixon, trainer of Dark Shot, said: “Ashleigh rode fantastically well. She was super confident the whole way through. Ashleigh works in racing and obviously this was her first time riding in an actual race, but she oozed confidence the whole way through.
“She came down to the yard and was super calm and collected. Even in the parade ring, I’ve seen apprentices and proper jockeys go to jelly, but Ashleigh was so calm the whole way through which filled me with confidence. She did the right thing and got a fantastic start – it was all good.
“The Magnolia Cup raises over a £1 million for charities and gives these ladies a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a lovely event, the crowd love it, we love it and it’s just a fabulous thing to be a part of.”
Runner-up Annabel Neasham, a multiple G1-winning trainer in Australia, said: “It was great. I was pretty unfit, but the horse gave me a great spin.
“It was a thrill. You are riding half a ton of animal. It makes me appreciate how fit the jockeys are. I’d love to take the idea back to Australia. There is all the health and safety things, but if it can be done here, I don’t see why not. It is a brilliant concept, great way to raise racing’s profile and raise money for charity.”
Olivia Kimber, the first known female jockey with MS to ride in a British horserace, finished third. She said: “It was an absolute thrill. The adrenaline that goes through you is incredible. I get what everyone says when saying that doing it once you just want to do it again. If I have the opportunity, 100 per cent I will do it again, it is amazing.
“It went really fast. The speed they go compared to when you work them at home is on another level. He jumped really well, travelled nicely and picked a few off at the end. He was fantastic. My legs can lock up [because of the MS], but they didn’t today. All was fine.”
Next up, Warren Point (9/2) came from off the pace to lead home a Charlie Appleby-trained one-two in the 10-furlong Coral Kincsem Handicap on day three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Warren Point produced a late flourish under William Buick to mow down stablemate Blue Trail (18/1) in the final strides and score by a neck. The front two pulled three and a quarter lengths clear of 3/1 favourite Migdam in third.
Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said: “It was nice viewing! They have both run super races and I am delighted with the pair.”
Buick said: “For his pedigree, he shows a lot of pace which is a good sign, and he will stay a mile and a half in time. He is one to look forward to.”
Royal Scotsman (5/6F) looks a colt destined for the top after setting a juvenile course record in the six-furlong G2 Richmond Stakes.
Always travelling strongly under Jim Crowley, Royal Scotsman quickened away from his rivals entering the final furlong to score by a commanding length and a half, shaving 0.15s off the track record held by Bachir since 1999.
This was a fourth win in the race for trainer Paul Cole – 37 years after his first winner Nomination in 1985 – and a first in partnership with his son Oliver.
Paul Cole said: “Nothing worries him – he is a fantastic horse. There is the possibility of stepping up in trip, but he has a lot of speed and is out of a fast mare [Enrol]. I can’t see anything around that has as much speed as him.
“If you’re looking at the 2,000 Guineas, good horses can win over a lot of trips. The way he behaves is very good. Whether he gets a mile or not I don’t know – he is bred for it.”
Jim Hay, husband of owner Fitri Hay, said: “That was thrilling. It’s why we do it. Paul and Oliver were as confident as you can be coming into Goodwood. This is a very tricky track and there are no shoo-ins.
“We love coming to Goodwood and had a lot of success here. Win, lose or draw here, you have a fantastic day. Royal Scotsman is a serious horse.”
New London (6/4F) shot to the head of the ante-post market for the G1 St Leger after grinding out success in the G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes.
The son of Dubawi was recording a fourth win in five career starts after coming off a strong pace under William Buick to win the 12-furlong contest by a length and three-quarters from Deauville Legend (14/1).
Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (6/1) was a neck further back in third on his first start for George Boughey, although his chance was not helped when Ryan Moore dropped his whip in the closing stages.
It was a third Gordon Stakes success for the in-form Charlie Appleby following Cross Counter in 2018 and Cap O’Rushes in 2013.
Buick said: “New London is a proper horse – he always has been. He is very exciting. The Derby prep didn’t go well, but we are delighted to get him back and Charlie and his team have done a great job.
“He is a very good horse. We went a good pace and I wasn’t following the horse I wanted to, so we were in front earlier than ideal. However, he is a strong galloper and he saw it out well, even allowing for that.
“This was always going to be a challenge for him and he has come through it with flying colours. I’m delighted and there’s plenty more to come.”
Nashwa (6/5F) confirmed herself as one of the best fillies of her generation by running away with the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes under Hollie Doyle, the first female jockey to win the 10-furlong showpiece.
Having raced in last early on, Nashwa made ground smoothly to challenge on the outside of runners in the straight before stretching away in the final furlong for an authoritative length-and-three-quarter success. Aristia (40/1) posted a career-best in second, with Lilac Road (15/2) third after meeting trouble in running.
Nashwa, who carried Doyle into the history books when winning the Prix de Diane last month, is a fifth win in the race for trainer John Gosden and his first in partnership with son Thady.
John Gosden said: “She has won with a bit in hand, but she is a grand filly who is improving all the time. Her owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar keeps pictures of her and she has changed a lot this year alone.
“We tried over a mile and a half at Epsom and she didn’t quite get the trip. She has won the Diane and the Nassau, so you can never ask for more from a filly. She has got the frame to improve again in the autumn and next year.
“Hollie Doyle is a star. She has an incredible work ethic. As a rider, she is very savvy and strong with great balance. She has the most wonderful personality, and she is so applied and focused – she is a credit to anybody in any line of work.”
Doyle said: “It is pretty awesome. She gave me some feel. A change of tactics today from France, but it paid off. Nashwa is A1, you can’t fault her.
“I came down the hill with a double handful. She travels very well, but she takes a while to hit top gear. I was conscious about keeping her balanced down the hill. This is her perfect trip. She has a high cruising speed and sees it out very well. She is push button and you can ride her anywhere, which is really nice.
“Nashwa is a horse of a lifetime and if it wasn’t for Imad Al Sagar for giving me this opportunity, I might not have enjoyed days like this. Every Group One means a lot, so you’ve got to enjoy it while it lasts, because you get home tonight and you’ll be back into work mode for the next day. You have limited time to enjoy these moments.”
Winning owner Imad Al Sagar said: “Nashwa is a homebred and I must admit that I am very emotional when it comes to her. She is my first Classic homebred and I am very proud of her. It is significant as this is the future broodmare for Blue Diamond Stud. The important part is that I own the family. Her dam Princess Loulou is now in foal to Frankel, carrying a filly which makes her a full-sister to Nashwa.
“Talking about the season, we knew from her two-year-old career that she was special, but how special we did not know. Since April, she has developed physically and mentally very quickly. She demonstrated those skills at Haydock and at Newbury in a Listed race. In the Oaks, she was beaten three and a half lengths and ran out of stamina. We were going into unknown territory, but in the French Oaks, she demonstrated a beautiful performance and now her second Group One in the Nassau.
“What I saw in Hollie is what she demonstrated today, but two years ago. Hollie is a gifted jockey, very intelligent and very dedicated. She has proved that today. I’ve said that gender should have nothing to do with it. Either you have it or you don’t.”
The Qatar Nassau Stakes is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
Hollie Doyle was on the scoresheet again with 14/1 chance Prairie Falcon in a bunched finish to the seven-furlong Jaeger-LeCoultre Nursery Handicap.
The Michael Dods-trained winner responded well to Doyle’s urgings to edge ahead in the final strides and make a winning handicap debut, just 35 minutes after the rider had landed the feature Qatar Nassau Stakes aboard Nashwa.
Runner-up X J Rascal (10/1) did well to go down by a head having completely blown the start, while fast-finishing Surely Not (28/1) – just a nose away in third – would have won in another few strides.
Doyle said: “I had watched all his previous runs and it looked like he was crying out for the trip. He had run some very respectable races and this extra furlong really helped.
“He actually jumped a bit slow so I had to take my medicine and ride the rail. Halfway down the straight he really took me there and it opened up, but I thought it was too soon. Thankfully, the Boughey horse on my inside came with me and we helped each other along. He was very tough towards the finish.”
Get Ahead provided trainer Clive Cox with his 10th Qatar Goodwood Festival winner when storming home down the middle of the track to land the five-furlong World Pool Handicap in style.
The daughter of Showcasing quickened smartly from off the pace under Adam Kirby to score by two lengths. Silky Wilkie (8/1) was second, with Kape Moss (14/1) a neck further back in third.
Cox said: “I am thrilled.
“We have a nice team and Get Ahead is a nice filly. Credit to Whitsbury Manor Stud where she was bred. It’s just great when it all goes right and she has shown a really good performance there, which I think she can build on.”
Kirby said: “The pace today was fast and furious. I was off it until halfway, when she came good on me, and then when she got a bit of daylight, she quickened well.”
Sam Hoskins of Hot To Trot Racing said: “I am over the moon. Get Ahead has been such a talented filly. She’s tried her luck at a higher level this season and has run some great races.
“It is great for the syndicate to have a winner at Goodwood, a dream come true.”
Amo Racing appear to have another smart juvenile on their hands after Sparkling Beauty (7/2F) created a big impression for Richard Hughes and Rossa Ryan in the concluding Tatler EBF Fillies’ Maiden.
The daughter of Oasis Dream, who has a G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes entry, coasted through the seven-furlong contest before striding clear to score by an impressive three and a half lengths. She’s Hot (4/1) took second, while Enola Grey (9/1) showed promise back in third.
Hughes said: “I love this place! We made a plan that we’d come here after Newbury and it has worked out lovely.
“Seven furlongs is fine for now. She will get a mile and maybe 10 furlongs next year. She is not fast but she has lovely pace. I was glad to see a real gallop today. I would have been very disappointed if she had been beaten here today.”
FRIDAY
Charlie Hills has dominated the G2 King George Qatar Stakes in recent years with Battaash and the Lambourn trainer continued his exceptional record in the five-furlong feature with Khaadem (8/1) on the fourth day of the Festival.
Khaadem, whose owner Fitri Hay was in the winner’s enclosure with Royal Scotsman on Thursday, saw his race out strongly to hold off the fast-finishing Raasel (3/1F) by a neck. Caturra (22/1) was three quarter a length a further back in third.
Hills said: “He is a good horse, a very good horse with a lot of speed.”
Photograph by Rachel Groom.
SATURDAY
Commanche Falls (25/1) became the sixth dual winner of the Coral Stewards’ Cup, and the first since Sky Diver in 1967 and 1968, with a blistering display in the heritage handicap on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.
Rated 2lb higher than last year, the Michael Dods-trained Commanche Falls produced his customary late surge under Connor Beasley to edge out Tabdeed (12/1) in a head-bobbing finish to the £250,000 showpiece.
Speaking from Thirsk, Dods told Racing TV: “I saw Connor pushing him and coming through and I thought ‘he has a good chance here’. He hit the front and then I think the other one came and headed him then he fought back on the line.
It was great for Connor and great for everyone. It’s great for the owners and the whole team. He has just done so well.”
Beasley said: “Commanche Falls seems to come alight when he comes down here.
“I’ve hit the front way too soon. He just idled in front, but when Hollie [Doyle on runner-up Tabdeed] came to his quarters, he stuck his neck out. It’s fantastic for all connections and the team back at home. I’m over the moon.”
Leading Jockey and Trainer Titles
Six winners saw William Buick clinch the top jockey award at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for a third time, with Charlie Appleby receiving a first top trainer title with five victories.
Buick, leading jockey at the meeting in 2014 and 2021, partnered all of Appleby’s winners throughout the week, with success on the George Boughey-trained Oscula in Wednesday’s G3 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes to complete his tally.
Summing Up
Jon Barnett, Goodwood Racecourse’s Director, said: “We are delighted with how the 2022 Qatar Goodwood Festival has gone. The atmosphere on course has been fabulous throughout with a real buzz, endorsed by the phenomenal racing.
“We were blessed with wonderful weather, and the true ‘Glorious Goodwood’ experience shone through.”
Karen can usually be found glued to her computer or at the stables. Having edited several national magazines she co-founded Eclipse Magazine in 2008 after realising that many of her friends were nervous about going racing due to lack of information – what to wear, how to bet etc.
She absolutely loves her job (how many people can say that?!) and is truly grateful to all supporters of and contributors to Eclipse Magazine.
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