London, August 05 (QNA) - The 2023 renewal of Qatar Goodwood Festival came to an end on Saturday evening. The five-day event, sponsored by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), started on Tuesday and, as ever since the initial edition sponsored by QREC in 2015, has been a success in the full sense of the word. Excellence was there in every single detail, whether in terms of organization, quality racing and attendance of racegoers throughout the five days.
Qatari excellence was not limited to organization and sponsorship. As usual, it has been associated with a victory on the highest level with the Al Shaqab Racing-owned "Al Ghadeer" landing the Gr1 PA Qatar International Stakes for the fifth year in a row for Qatar; a feat re-confirming Qatar as a world's pioneer in Arabian horse racing.
The ground was very testing for the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Jockey Tom Marquand added another success to his fantastic week with Sumo Sam, winner of the Qatar Lillie Lagntry Stakes (Gr2). Just as he did aboard Quickthorn in Tuesday's Goodwood Cup, he kept the Paul and Oliver Cole-trained filly in front. Favourite Free Wind seemed to be traveling well, but never answered when Dettori asked her, on this very heavy ground.
Sumo Sam won by eight and a half lengths in front of River of Stars, with a further five and a half lengths back to Time Lock, third.
Trainer Oliver Cole said in an interview with ITV Racing: "Tom's given her a brilliant ride and she's a very good filly. Out in front like that, she was not going to be pegged back. I'm not sure what we'll do next, she'd have a penalty in the Park Hill. We've done a lot of stalls work with her since her last run - she's gone in twice a week. In her last two races she's been left and that hasn't been helpful. She takes a lot of pushing in and a lot of cajoling, and the stalls handlers make it look so easy. Full credit to the team at home, and thanks very much to the guys at the stalls who are the unsung heroes. They do what a lot of us wouldn't do, so full credit to them." Tom Marquand added: "I'd be lying if I said I did any research into the race, I came back in from the last and was asked can I do 8st 11lb then I jumped aboard. I've seen plenty of her and was going to ride her the day I got kicked on Guineas weekend. I watched her finish second and it looked like she needed a trip. Cole and Ollie were very keen to make this a test and - as the other day showed - it's a hard track to get front-running horses back. She's done well, she was getting a bit lonely in that last half-furlong but the damage was already done." (QNA)