A Glorious Return

Day 1 

While it was unfortunate the John Gosden trained Stradivarius didn't line-up to re-write his own piece of history on Tuesday, seeing leading female jockey, Hollie Doyle record her second-ever Group 1 success on the Alan King trained, Trueshan provided a wonderful culmination in the feature £500,000 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. Hollie's success in the race was one of three winners for the leading rider whose dominance in the weighing room continues to flourish. 

Day 2

There are seldom more beautiful sights in racing, than the magnificent purebred Arabians who went to post for the Qatar International Stakes on Wednesday. It was the French challenger Lady Princess who emerged the winner seeing off vanquished champion Ebraz who was successful in this race in 2019 and 2020. The theme of female winners continued when Alcohol Free became one of only a handful of fillies to win the £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes under Oisin Murphy reeling in Poetic Flare inside the final furlong. 

If there was a horse to take note of on day two it was Amor, the impressive winner of the Markel Molecomb Stakes for Richard Hannon and Al Shaqab Racing, he looks set to step up to Group One company with the Prix Morny at Deauville earmarked as the likely target.

Day 3

Thursday, August 29, began with the Magnolia Cup presented by Markel run in support of UK Charity Smart Works, which assists unemployed women to harness their confidence ahead of a job interview. In its tenth year, the race has raised over £1.6 million with the riders of this year's race raising over £50,000 alone. This year provided a thrilling dead-heat between Thea Gosden-Hood and Candida Crawford - all ten riders taking part have put in a phenomenal amount of work, and a special mention must go to Rachel Stringer, who has learned to ride for the race. 

Lady Bowthorpe raised the roof when bagging her first Group One in the Qatar Nassau Stakes on Ladies' Day providing trainer William Jarvis with success at the top level after a 27 year drought. Owned by iconic music agent Emma Banks, there was barely a dry eye on the racecourse, and not since Frankel's success in 2012 has the racecourse been so alive with rapturous cheers.

Day 4

Friday saw the legendary sprinter Battaash run his last race before retirement, glory in four consecutive King George Qatar Stakes make him one of the best horses we have seen in British racing in recent times, his achievements also mark him out as one of the fastest horses we have seen on the South Downs, in 2020 he broke the Goodwood course record over five furlongs, a time unlikely to be beaten for many years to come.

Day 5

Pulborough trained, Wonderful Tonight was all class in Saturday's Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes for David Menuisier and William Buick, she looks a force to be reckoned with ahead of her trip to Paris for October's Qatar Prix L'Arc de Triomphe for owner Chris Wright. The final day's Unibet Stewards' Cup always throws up some fantastic finishes, and this year was no different, with Commanche Falls bursting up the stands side to provide a first win at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for northern-trainer Michael Dods and jockey Connor Beasley. 

The weather largely remained unsettled across the week, but the racing stories and true 'Glorious Goodwood' experience failed to dampen the spirits. We now look forward to our August Bank Holiday racing fixture (Friday 27 - Sunday 29 August), which features a Friday Night Takeover from Ibiza legend Carl Cox and fun for all the family across the weekend.