Before the last group of horses line up at the gates to finish another great season at Goodwood, everyone at NetBet is reminiscing over the best bits from The Qatar Goodwood Festival. Have a glance over the highlights of this great day yourself. You never know, you might be putting a bet on one of these horses at the Season Finale…
Day One- 31st July
Vintage Stakes 14:25
Group 2. 7 furlongs. 2-year-olds only.
Dark Vision (10/3) was the favourite and he looked like he was in trouble at the back, but Silvestre De Sousa edged him forward on the inside to get well ahead and win. Not doing as well as they hoped were Blonde Warrior (8/1) and Junius Brutus (13/2), both failing to make any real impact on this year’s renewal.
Lennox Stakes 15:00
Group 2. 7 furlongs. 3-years+.
The joint favourites sat at the top and bottom of the table in this jaw-dropping race. Tip Two Win had a topsy-turvy race, starting off poorly, doing reasonably well in the middle, before weakening in the final two furlongs. Sir Dancealot lived up to the 5/1 odds with Gerald Mosse edging him past the finish line.
Goodwood Cup 15:35
Group 1. 2 miles. 3-years+.
It was a two-horse race but Stradivarius ridden by Andrea Atzenti won by half a length securing a close victory over Torcedor. It was back-to-back wins for the John Gosden-trained horse, who’s now etched into Goodwood history.
Day Two- 1st August
The Molecomb Stakes 15:00
Group 3. 5 furlongs. 2-year-olds only.
Rumble Inthejungle (5/1), whose sire Bungle Inthejungle also won this race, lived up to the family name, securing a clear win beating out the favourite, Soldier’s Call (6/4), who came in third.
Qatar Sussex Stakes 15:35
Group 1. 1 mile. 3-year-olds only.
There were probably a more than a few disappointed faces in the crowd when the 7/4 favourite, Without Parole, came in second from last. Andrea Atzeni and Silvestre De Sousa were both riding horses at the bottom of the pile, probably exhausted from The Goodwood Cup the day before. Oisin Murphy, who’d never won a Group 1 prior to 2018, continued his excellent form this season winning on Lightning Spear (9/1).
Day 3 – 2nd August
Lillie Langtry Stakes 14:25
Group 2. 1 mile, 6 furlongs. 3-years+. Fillies and mares.
Maid Up was just a short head away from victory and making anyone who put the 16/1 bet on her throw their hands up in air in frustration. But it was Pilaster (11/4) to finish first with the favourite, God Given (5/2), coming in fourth.
Richmond Stakes 15:00
Group 2. 6 furlongs. 2-year-olds only.
A closely fought race with few surprises. The favourite, Land Force (5/2), under Ryan Moore, pulled ahead to finish first after a tense finish to the race.
Nassau Stakes 15:35
Group 1. 1 mile, 1 furlong, 192 yards. 3-years+. Fillies and mares.
Ryan Moore had a very mixed day, riding the favourite, Rhododendron, into last place after his Richmond win. Modest winnings were made on the 4/1 winner, Wild Illusion, which was a welcome win for the colours of Godolphin.
Day 4 – 3rd August
Glorious Stakes 13:50
Group 3. 1 mile, 4 furlongs. 4-years+.
Mirage Dancer (6/5) was tipped to be the favourite for a reason and secured an easy victory under Ryan Moore and another for Sir Michael Stoute. The four-year old was strong throughout and capped off a second win at Goodwood in 2018.
Thoroughbred Stakes 14:25
Group 3. 1 mile. 3-year-olds only.
Frankie Dettori rode the 10/1 Regal Reality into victory, coming in on the inside to lead the final seventy-five yards. It was another bad race for the well-backed favourite, Threading (9/4), under James Doyle, who came last.
King George Stakes 15:35
Group 2. 5 furlongs. 3-years+.
The favourite, Battaash (8/11), won this prestigious race in a record-breaking 56-seconds. He was followed over the finish line by horses doing better than expected. Second, third, and fourth place carried 20/1, 16/1, and 20/1 odds respectively. This race was all about Battaash though, who won by a clear four lengths.
Oak Tree Stakes 16:40
Group 3. 7 furlongs. 3-years+.
Pretty Baby (3/1) under Dane O’Neill led a tightly packed group over the finish line. It was close but no cigar for Dancing Star under Oisin Murphy.
Day 5 – 4th August
Gordon Stakes 15:00
Group 3. 1 mile 3 furlongs 218 yards. 3-year-olds only.
In a four-horse field, this race was all Cross Counter’s, who William Buick rode to first place 4 and a half lengths ahead of Dee Ex Bee (6/4), the favourite, in second. Buick rode Cross Counter into a lead from 10f out, but it wasn’t until the final furlong until the 2-year old rode clear.
Steward’s Cup 15:40
Handicap. 6 furlongs. 3-years+.
Gifted Master won by a short head in front of Justanotherbottle, but both horses will have had cause for celebration with 20/1 and 25/1 odds respectively. Another doing better than expected was the 25/1 Solar Flair who came in fourth.
