“Last year was the first year I was involved in creating an image for Goodwood, being the inaugural Qatar Goodwood Festival the image was deliberately anonymous. It was a case of creating something very distinct due to the change in branding, therefore Goodwood House seemed appropriate for the environment in order to make it clear that it was still “Glorious Goodwood”.
Galileo Gold was chosen for this year’s portrait. He won the Qatar Vintage Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2015, holding off the Charlie Hills-trained Ibn Malik, to seal his first Group success. Galileo Gold is owned by Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Hugo Palmer in Newmarket.
The image captures the poise of this winner perfectly against the backdrop of the Racecourse and the Sussex Downs. Using a variety of retouching skills, Ripley has created an image that, at first glance, resembles an oil painting. It only becomes evident on closer inspection that the picture is actually a composite of several photographs.
Hugo Palmer said; "Galileo Gold's victory in the Qatar Vintage Stakes was cause for an enormous amount of satisfaction. He had been purchased by Al Shaqab Racing with the Qatar Vintage Stakes in mind. He was Al Shaqab's
first runner at the inaugural Qatar Goodwood Festival so it was doubly thrilling for him to become their first winner of what was an enormously successful week for Al Shaqab.
“In the same way that the Qatar Vintage Stakes plan worked out perfectly for Galileo Gold, so too has Ripley's composition. He has perfectly captured the horse and the stunning beauty of the Sussex countryside. The picture particularly reminds me of how much Galileo Gold was maturing when he won at Goodwood. He has improved physically so much in the months since then and I hope that he will continue to be a flagbearer for Al Shaqab this season and, if things go well for him, I would like to think he will find an opportunity to return to the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2016."
About Ripley
Ripley is known for his portraiture, automotive and commercial work, and has photographed celebrities including David Beckham, David Bowie, Coldplay and Lewis Hamilton. A lifelong animal lover, he started capturing horses three and a half years ago.
“What got me engrossed with horses was their personality and psychology”, Ripley, who undertook a three-month course in equine anatomy at Newmarket’s National Stud, explained. “I’m not necessarily looking for a classic conformation shot – I want to capture character and convey that equine sense of mischief!”
Ripley shoots subject and background separately, often having as little as 10 minutes with the horse. He has photographed equine stars such as California Chrome, Postponed, Dubday and Big Buck’s, held exhibitions at the Jockey Club Rooms and finished runner-up in the Fine Art-Other Category in the 2014 International Photography Awards.
Notes to Editors
The Qatar Goodwood Festival runs from Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 July 2016. To find out more on the meeting, including details on buying tickets, visit www.goodwood.com/horse-racing or call 01243 755055.
Ripley is available for press interviews. Please contact Sam Hanson at Goodwood Racecourse (details below) to book time in with him.
Sam Hanson, Racecourse PR Executive
T: 01243 755 000
M: 07790 921 688
Goodwood Racecourse on social media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/goodwoodracecourse
Twitter: @Goodwood_Races
Instagram: @goodwood_races
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