Year: 2023

Goodwood Called Off after Jockeys Raise Concern

Suzanne Ashton
Goodwood racetrack

Following concerns raised by Jockeys, and officials re-evaluating the going, Goodwood was called off on Saturday due to the complications ongoing rain was causing. With the cancellation at Goodwood, coming only three races short of conclusion on the final day, Ed Arkell, Goodwood’s Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, told Racing TV: The jockeys expressed their concern after the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes that there were some areas on the bends that they weren’t happy about. They were happy to race on the straight course for the Coral…

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Paddington produces faultless run at Goodwood

Suzanne Ashton
Paddington running at Goodwood 2023 on grass with other horses in race

Paddington (4/9F) continued his faultless season for Aidan O’Brien with another dominant display in the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood today. Having started the season in a handicap, Paddington has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting horses in training, with today’s success coming on the back of G1 victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Coral-Eclipse.  Dropping back to a mile, Ryan Moore decided to make his own running on Paddington. Inspiral’s rider Frankie Dettori put it up to him early in…

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Al Ghadeer wins Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood

Suzanne Ashton
HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with Al Ghadeer, Christophe Soumillon, Yvana Lacoste and Francois Rohaut after winning the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at Goodwood © Debbie Burt

Four-year-old european champion, Al Ghadeer continued his unbeaten run in Group 1PA races with a three and a quarter length win from First Classs, with Samlla a further half-length away in third at Goodwood today. The colt, trained like Samlla by Francois Rohaut, provided a second win in the event for Al Shaqab Racing who also won with the colt’s sire, Al Mourtajez in 2016. Partnered by Christophe Soumillon, he becomes the first of his age group to win the mile contest, which at £400,000 is the most valuable over that distance…

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A little different Paddington heads straight for £1m Qatar Sussex Stakes

Suzanne Ashton
Qatar Sussex Stakes runner, Paddington - racehorse with other horses racing

Aidan O’Brien has described Paddington as a “little bit different” as his stable star takes aim at the £1m G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes on day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Wednesday, August 2. Paddington has been imperious in five starts so far this season, establishing himself as the best miler of his generation with comprehensive victories in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James’s Palace Stakes. In the first clash of the generations in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park earlier last month, the Siyouni colt proved just as effective…

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How to watch Goodwood on ITV

Suzanne Ashton
Goodwood on ITV image of horses racing on grass at Goodwood Racecourse

Find out how you can watch Goodwood on ITV below. ‘Glorious Goodwood’ is one of the highlights of the summer racing calendar and this year will feature some exciting superstars such as the Aidan O’Brien trained Paddington, a hot favourite for the Qatar Sussex Stakes on Wednesday. On the same day, the star filly Nashwa also lines up in the Qatar Nassau Stakes under the trailblazing Hollie Doyle to take on the challenge of the French raider, Blue Rose Cen. The Festival is also next stop on Frankie Dettori’s retirement…

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Highfield Princess set for battle in King George Qatar Stakes this Friday

Suzanne Ashton
Crack sprinter Highfield Princess will be the star attraction in the £300,000 G2 King George Qatar Stakes on Friday, August 4.

Crack sprinter Highfield Princess will be the star attraction at Glorious Goodwood, in the £300,000 G2 King George Qatar Stakes on Friday, August 4. John Quinn’s popular six-year-old reeled off a G1 hat-trick last summer, taking the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. The daughter of Night Of Thunder made the frame in both G1 sprints at Royal Ascot last month, finishing second to Bradsell in the King’s Stand Stakes and third to last year’s King George Qatar Stakes…

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Connolly’s RED MILLS joins forces with HEROS Charity

Suzanne Ashton
horses galloping through field

Global equine nutrition company Connolly’s RED MILLS have joined forces with HEROS Charity, a prominent organisation dedicated to ex-racehorse retraining and providing education opportunities, in a new partnership dedicated to championing equine welfare.  HEROS Charity, established in 2006, initially focused on retraining and rehoming ex-racehorses. Founder Grace Muir recognized the untapped potential of these horses for a second career beyond racing. Over the years, HEROS Charity has expanded its services to encompass various equine-related initiatives, including education and training programmes. These offerings range from alternative school placements for students aged…

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Bryan Cooper Shares Thoughts and Tips on Galway Festival

Suzanne Ashton
Image of horses racing with blurred background to represent Galway Festival

‘While they keep Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson out of the Cheltenham winners’ enclosure, I’ll support them’ – top jockey backs Irish to continue racing dominance Ahead of the start of the Galway Festival next week, former top jockey Bryan Cooper says he has no issue with the dominance of the big three yards in Ireland – including one he used to ride for – as it will keep the Brits out of the picture.  Cooper, a former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and one of racing’s superstar jockeys before surprisingly…

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Unstoppable Upstart Crow Wins Again

Suzanne Ashton
Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett win the Wathbastallions.com (0-75) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

Unstoppable Upstart Crow Wins Again in the Wathbastallions.com Handicap Stakes at Chepstow Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett continued their unbeaten run this year, winning by a head in the Wathba Stallions (0-75) Handicap at Chepstow over a mile on Friday evening. Securing their fourth victory in as many starts, the six-year-old kept stablemates Jaahez, ridden by Miss Rhea Betts at bay, with Mayfair and Rhiain Ingram a further two and three-quarters of a length away in third. This gave trainer James Owen a second one-two-three training performance of the current ARO season.…

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York Racecourse Equine Ambassador Goldream lifts spirits of former doctor

Suzanne Ashton
Goldream with John and Jan Kirk

Today, York Racecourse Equine Ambassador former racehorse Goldream (Remy) and his friend Poppy visited St Leonard’s Hospice and met with patients and their families as well as visitors to its Sunflower Wellbeing Hub.    In partnership with the racehorse rehoming and retraining charity New Beginnings the former dual Group 1 winning racehorse was enrolled as York’s ambassador last year to help deepen the racecourses’ connection with the local community.   The equine pair’s visit follows research released last week by Bristol University via the International Forum of Racehorses (IFAR) on the…

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