War Decree Takes Out Vintage Stakes
The Aidan O’Brien-trained juvenile travelled smoothly throughout in the hands of Ryan Moore, who manoeuvred his mount off the rails to deliver his challenge approaching the final furlong.
The colt picked up well when asked to quicken, sweeping through to beat the Godolphin-owned pair Thunder Snow (Helmet) and Boynton (More Than Ready) by a length and three quarters and a length respectively.
The two-year-old could now head to the National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at the Curragh on 11 September, though he also holds an entry in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Doncaster on 10 September.
Yalta (2 c ex Lacilly by Elusive Quality) lowered the two-year-old track record when a runaway winner of the Molecomb Stakes (Gr 3, 5f) at Goodwood on Wednesday, in the process providing Exceed And Excel (Danehill) with his 115th stakes winner.
The 8-1 shot was quick from the gates under James Doyle and moved strongly on the lead as his rivals struggled to keep up.
On the run to the final furlong, Yalta drew further clear to beat The Last Lion (Choisir) by three lengths in a time of 57.14 seconds, with Global Applause (Mayson) a further three quarters of a length behind in third.
Given the speed Yalta showed on his first attempt at five furlongs, connections could consider supplementing him for the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at York on 19 August.
Mehmas (2 c Acclamation – Lucina by Machiavellian) confirmed himself one of the best two-year-old’s in Europe when a game winner of the Richmond Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Goodwood on Thursday.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt was forced to concede three pounds to his rivals, as a consequence of winning the July Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) on his previous start, but he stuck his head out in determined fashion to see off Blue Point (Shamardal) by a neck, with Intelligence Cross (War Front) three lengths further adrift in third.
Mehmas will likely prove tough to beat if honouring his entry in the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at York on 20 August.
The Freddy Head-trained Alrahma (2 f ex Albaraah by Oasis Dream) ran out a ready winner of the Prix de Cabourg (Gr 3, 1200m) at Deauville on Sunday, giving Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) his 98th stakes winner.
The filly quickened to lead at the 200 metres and held off the late challenge of Fixette (Kodiac) by half a length, with the odds-on favourite Northern Thunder (Invincible Spirit) a further neck away in third.
In winning the Prix de Cabourg, a recognised Prix Morny (Gr 1, 1200m) trial, Alrahma is likely to try and emulate Dabirsim (Hat Trick) who completed the double in 2011.
Three-year-olds
The Gurkha (3 c Galileo – Chintz by Danehill Dancer) gained his revenge on Galileo Gold (Paco Boy) when a narrow winner of the Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Goodwood on Wednesday.
Galileo Gold came out on top when the pair met in the St James’ Palace Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot in June, but Ryan Moore did not afford Frankie Dettori anything like as much rope on the front-end this time around.
As Galileo Gold attempted to quicken over two furlongs out, The Gurkha was on his tail and moved alongside his rival a furlong from home.
He edged to the front with 100 yards to run and, though Galileo Gold rallied, he held a neck advantage at the line, with the fast-finishing Ribchester (Iffraaj) just a short-head further behind in third.
The winner could now tackle the Juddmonte International Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2.5f) at York on 17 August, while Galileo Gold is likely to be given a break before an autumn campaign.
Minding (3 f Galileo – Lillie Langtry by Danehill Dancer) secured her sixth Group One victory in the Nassau Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Goodwood on Saturday.
Aidan O’Brien’s dual-Classic winner was sent off the 1-5 favourite to beat just four rivals, though it was far from plain-sailing for Ryan Moore, with the filly hampered and shuffled back to last on the home bend.
Once gathered together by her rider, Minding came with a sustained run to sweep past Queen’s Trust (Dansili) inside the final furlong for a length and a quarter success, with a further break of a length and a quarter back to Jemayel (Lope De Vega) in third.
Last-start Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Qemah (3 f Danehill Dancer – Kartica by Rainbow Quest) added another valuable prize to her haul when landing the Prix Rothschild (Gr 1, 1600m) at Deauville on Sunday.
The Al Shaqab-owned filly moved strongly into contention from off the pace under Gregory Benoist and hit the front approaching the 300 metres.
The well-backed Volta (Siyouni) tried to go with the winner but she could not match her turn of foot and was a length and a quarter adrift at the line, with a break of two and a half lengths back to Steip Amach (Vocalised) in third.
The regally-bred Ulysses (3 c ex Light Shift by Kingmambo) took out the Gordon Stakes (Gr 3, 1m4f) at Goodwood on Wednesday, providing Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) with his 228th stakes winner.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt came with a strong late run under Andrea Atzeni to beat The Major General (Galileo) by half a length, with Shogun (Fastnet Rock) a further length and a half behind in third.
Stoute also saddled Thikriyaat (3 g Azamour – Malaspina by Whipper) to win the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Goodwood on Friday.
The gelding lost his unbeaten record when second in the Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Royal Ascot, but he showed a willing attitude to overcome trouble in running and gain a fourth career victory, beating stablemate Forge (Dubawi) by half a length with Light Up Our World (Zoffany) a further three quarters of a length down in third.
French raider Al Jazi (3 f ex Rainbow Crossing by Cape Cross) took out the Queens Plate Stakes (registered as the Oak Tree Stakes) (Gr 3, 7f) at Goodwood on Friday, beating Mise En Rose (War Front) by a length and three quarters, with Namhroodah (Sea The Stars) a further three quarters of a length behind in third, in the process providing Canford Cliffs (Tagula) with a fourth stakes winner.
Left Hand (3 f ex Balladeuse by Singspiel) beat Lakalas (Turtle Bowl) by a neck to win the Prix Psyche (Gr 3, 2000m) at Deauville on Saturday, with a break of two lengths back to Apple Betty (Galileo) in third, providing Darley’s Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) with an 111th stakes winner.
Older horses
Last season’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) fifth Big Orange (5 g Duke Of Marmalade – Miss Brown To You by Fasliyev) won his second consecutive Goodwood Cup (Gr 2, 2m) at Goodwood on Thursday.
As is his custom, Michael Bell’s five-year-old was sent straight into the lead by Jamie Spencer, who began to increase the tempo as the field fanned out into the straight.
Although briefly headed at the two furlong marker, Big Orange found plenty for pressure to win going away by a length and a quarter from Pallasator (Motivator), with Sheikhzayedroad (Dubawi) a head further away in a never nearer third.
Connections will wait to see how much weight Big Orange is allotted before committing him to another run in the Melbourne Cup, but the Irish St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6f) on 11 September looks his likely target in the interim.
Jockey James McDonald guided Dutch Connection (4 c Dutch Art – Endless Love by Dubai Destination) to an impressive success in the Lennox Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Goodwood on Tuesday.
The Charles Hills-trained colt relished the quick underfoot conditions and cruised up to join the leaders midway up the home straight.
McDonald elicited an instant response from Dutch Connection with a shake of the reins at the furlong pole, the pair sweeping past Home Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) to score by a length and three quarters, with a further length and three quarters back to Gifted Master (Kodiac) in third.
The evergreen Take Cover (9 g Singspiel – Enchanted by Magic Ring) won his second King George V Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Goodwood on Friday.
Showing his trademark early speed, David Griffiths’ nine-year-old had the field on the stretch from half way and held on bravely to beat Washington DC (Zoffany) by a neck, with Goldream (Oasis Dream) just a head further behind in third, to add to his 2014 victory in the Group Two contest.
The Andre Fabre-trained Elliptique (5 h ex Uryale by Kendor) took out the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Gr 1, 2000m) at Munich on Sunday, providing his sire New Approach (Galileo) with a fifth Group One winner.
Under a well judged ride by Frankie Dettori, Elliptique led in the dying strides to beat Royal Solitaire (Shamardal) by half a length, with another son of New Approach, Potemkin, a further half a length behind in third spot.
Kings Fete (5 g Village Fete by Singspiel) won the Glorious Stakes (Gr 3, 1m4f) at Goodwood on Friday, beating Ayrad (Dalakhani) by three quarters of a length, to provide King’s Best (Kingmambo) with his 61st stakes winner. Meanwhile, California (4 f ex Maskaya by Machiavellian) gave Azamour (Night Shift) a 30th stakes winner when landing the Lillie Langtry Stakes (Gr 3, 1m6f) at Goodwood by a length from Tioga Pass (High Chaparral).