Qirat and Richard Kingscote (green cap) winning The Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. (Dan Abraham/Focusonracing.com)
Ralph Beckett’s 4-year-old gelding secures automatic berth into FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar
Lady Iman bursts clear of her rivals in Molecomb
Breeders’ Cup Release
CHICHESTER, England – The Juddmonte-owned Qirat (GB), sent off at 150-1, sprung one of the biggest shocks in flat racing history to land the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) on the second day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.
The victory gave Qirat an automatic starting position and fees paid into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
In the preceding race, Lady Iman (IRE) claimed the HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes (G3) at 13-8f, and gained an automatic starting position and fees paid into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Ralph Beckett enjoyed one of the finest moments of his training career as he secured a first ever win in the Sussex Stakes courtesy of Qirat, on a day where he trained a memorable double for owners Juddmonte after Tabiti dead-heated in the HKJC World Pool Oak Tree Stakes (G3) earlier on the card.
The race was run at a frantic gallop from the outset with Serengeti (FR) and Qirat ensuring there was no hiding place. This 7-horse field was strung out as they entered the home straight, with the front-running duo 6 lengths clear. Inside the final 2 furlongs, the main players tried to come out of the chasing pack, but it was too big an ask for the likes of odds-on favorite Field of Gold (IRE) and Henri Matisse (IRE). Under the drive of Epsom Derby (G1)-winning jockey Richard Kingscote, Qirat hung on to win by a half-length from the fast-finishing Rosallion (IRE) in second. The winning time was 1:37:92 on ground that was listed as good.
Winning jockey Kingscote said: “It feels very surreal. He gave me a great spin; he likes the track and is very well balanced. He gave me a push-button ride, so I’m absolutely delighted. It’s turning out to be a pretty good year, things are great!”
Beckett, whose 4-year-old Qirat extended his unbeaten record at Goodwood to three wins from three starts, said: “He did his job. We set out to go 12-second furlongs and he did that. He was working so well, and he loves this place. Richard (Kingscote) has always been a tremendous judge of the clock.”
He added: “He’s a Goodwood specialist. I’m absolutely thrilled to bits. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for Field Of Gold but it’s a horse race and anything can happen.”
Lady Iman bursts clear of her rivals in Molecomb
Lady Iman, owned by Mrs. A O’Callaghan and trained by Ger Lyons, was a dominant winner of the HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes. She also represented the final leg of a treble for Ryan Moore who won the first three races on the card. She becomes just the second Irish-trained winner of this race in the last 10 years. The winning time was 57:16 on ground that was good.
Lady Iman, by first-season sire Starman (GB), lost her unbeaten record when beaten 2 lengths as the runner-up in the Airlie Stud Stakes (G2) at The Curragh when last seen, but added a second Group race to her CV with this taking success.
Winning jockey Ryan Moore said: “She’s always been held in high regard and held very good form. She’s a very fast filly. She was cantering over them with two furlongs to run and I ended up getting there a bit too early. She’s very smart.”
Moore also gave his take on whether she would be a good fit for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
He added: “Yeah, she’d be good enough. If she got a good enough draw, she’d be well able to win it.”
Ger Lyons landed the Juvenile Turf Sprint with Magnum Force (IRE) last year and is keen to repeat the trick this year with Lady Iman.
He said: “I got such a buzz out of Del Mar last year that I would like to go back with something special. If I’m allowed, we will go with this filly.”
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Qirat to start in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile and for Lady Iman to start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup by the pre-entry deadline of October 20 in order to receive the rewards.
