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Scandinavia leads home O’Brien one-two in G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup

29th July 2025

Scandinavia (4/1) emerged as the new kid on the staying block as he bested stablemate Illinois in a ding-dong finish to the feature G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

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Scandinavia wins the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Ph. by Dominic James.jpg

Lining up after a wide-margin success in the G3 Bahrain Trophy, Scandinavia needed every yard of two miles under Wayne Lordan, mastering front-runner Illinois (7/4F) close home after a sustained battle.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained pair pulled two and a half lengths clear of Sweet William (4/1), who once again at this track failed to travel with his usual fluency. 

Scandinavia, a son of Justify, is the first three-year-old to take the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup since Stradivarius in 2017.

O’Brien said: “I am delighted. Wayne gave Scandinavia a brilliant ride. He ran a lovely race at Ascot when Wayne rode him, as he got trapped six wide all the way but he kept coming and coming, and then Ryan rode him at Newmarket and said he was a very good horse. He said he stays forever and is very classy.

“Thanks to the lads, they said why not come here and run him against Illinois? Scandinavia is a typical Justify. They just won’t lie down. They are Galileos, but more class, and he showed there exactly what they are. They keep putting their head out, keep going forward, and they are so genuine.

“The lads will make those decisions [about the St Leger and so on], but obviously Lambourn didn't go to the King George because Jan Brueghel was going there, so he has his eye on the Voltigeur, and then he could go anywhere after that – to an Arc or a St Leger. All of those things are open, but I’d say this horse looks ready made for the St Leger as he stays forever, handled an ease in the ground here today, and is very straightforward.

“I thought Ryan did everything perfect today on Illinois. He was out there and had the race won, and then the other horse just came and got him. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Illinois yet because I think we went to the Gold Cup a year too early and his preparation wasn’t right to win a Gold Cup. He ran an unbelievable race, and he’ll have the rest of the season, but often when that happens, it can stop the progression you would really want to come. I really think we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”

Lordan said: “Credit to Scandinavia, he has improved all year. He was stepping up to two miles today against the older horses; it was a tough task, but I thought he stepped forward quite well.

“Ryan’s horse Illinois has gone this trip before and doesn’t mind making the running, so I was happy to follow. It was a little bit rough at one stage but, when everyone settled into it, I got a smooth run around.

“Illinois is a very genuine horse, a Group One horse, and this horse was stepping into his company today. He had never run in that company before, so today was going to find out how smart he is. Obviously, he is a very smart stayer.

“He likes fast ground and is an easy-going horse. Even though he was getting there without me going 100 per cent, when I got stuck into him, he went forward and won nicely. Kyprios wasn't here this year and my fella was stepping up. I think next year, he could be the strong horse in the race. He is quite a tall horse and Justifys improve with time.”

Sweet William’s co-trainer John Gosden said: “He ran a very brave race and we couldn’t be more pleased with him. He will go to York and Doncaster now. A galloping track suits him, maybe a fiddly one like this doesn’t. Aidan’s runners controlled the early easy fractions. When they do that, they are very hard to catch.”

Robert Havlin added: “For some reason, Sweet William never travels around Goodwood, even when he has won. He was a bit on and off the bridle and they did him for speed up the straight.’’

Sunway’s trainer David Menuisier said: “He was beaten fair and square but he stays well and did his best. There was no excuse. He is just behind the best at 12 furlongs to two miles. As long as Aidan turns up, we will be settling for the places. I am thinking he could go for the Prix Kergorlay and maybe the Cadran, try to meet the French rather than the British.’’

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