Dettori gives Qatar winning start at Goodwood, with Gulf nation now sponsoring

Frankie Dettori steered Qatar-owned Galileo Gold to victory on Tuesday in the Qatar Vintage Stakes on the first day of the Goodwood Festival, which now has the oil-and-gas rich Gulf nation as its title sponsor. “Solow is a very good horse but was backward and took time to come to his peak”.

“I think he ran a very good race at Ascot and I was very happy with him”.

The Downs track can catch out a runner or two but it will come as no surprise to Highland Reel in the Neptune Investment Management Gordon Stakes after his win at this meeting past year.

O’Brien is represented by Cougar Mountain and Bossy Guest runs for Mick Channon, while Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When and Richard Fahey’s Gabrial complete the eight-runner field. He is sponsoring the meeting this year, it’s a dream start. “I’ve just spoken to him and he’s watching from the beach in Turkey”. But I said that it was Goodwood so we should go for it.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to Al Shaqab, said: ‘You only have to look at him to see he is a horse who can only get better. “We don’t want to be greedy and hopefully races likes the Jean-Luc Lagardere, on the Qatar weekend in Paris, the Dewhurst or Racing Post Trophy might be on the agenda”.

Trainer Mark Johnston loves nothing more than a victor at the festival and the Middleham handler struck for the first time this week with 20/1 chance Blue Wave in the Summer Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, unlucky with Birchwood, were on the board soon after as Hannon-trained Toormore, running in their colours for the first time, was a gutsy three-quarter length victor of the Lennox Stakes from fellow 9-4 joint favourite Dutch Connection.

“He did it the hard way”.

The top-quality action keeps on coming throughout the week as on Friday, we’ll all be looking to find the victor of the Qatar King George Stakes. I’ve followed Michael Stoute’s horse since last year and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about him it’s that he’ll like this sort of soft ground – in fact, he’s been crying out for it, so he’s definitely one to side with in this.

Dettori was happy to play the waiting game in the seven-furlong Group Two and remained nearer last than first leaving the back straight. He’s got a good pedigree and he deserved to at least win a maiden like that.

“He did it the hard way”, said Hannon.

On the fifth and final day, we’ve got another Group 1 in store with the Nassau Stakes, which is open to fillies and held over a distance of one mile and two furlongs.

Rouleau is progressing for Godolphin and his capable of having a say, along with Weatherbys Super Sprint hero Lathom. “Clearly, he wasn’t!” This is a step back into Group One company, though, and he was behind Night Of Thunder in the Lockinge earlier in the season. Each time, she might have been a little bit unlucky and could be the one to be on here.

“She showed lots of speed today and we’ll just wait and see what the handicapper does”.

He can start that back at Goodwood by taking this Group Three contest.

He added: “I had my first UK victor at Goodwood, back in 1987, on Lizzy Hare”.

The five-year-old was a stunning victor of the Dubai Turf at Meydan at the end of March and has continued in the same vein since returning to Europe, landing the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp before claiming Royal Ascot glory in the Queen Anne. “I have never lost faith in Adam”, said the Sheikh.