Great Goodwood

Whilst the weather may not have been kind to us at Goodwood, the racing certainly did not disappoint! Tuesday started the meeting off in the most exciting manner aboard Quickthorn in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup in the most spectacular fashion for Hughie Morrison and Lord and Lady Blyth. 

Whilst plan A isn’t always possible to execute in a race, and as a jockey we have to revert to plan B, C, D … and sometimes even Z, this was one that never had to be changed at all. Plan A was to set sail and let him find a rhythm that he felt happy with and let rest of the runners figure out where they wanted to be in relation to us, and thankfully they let us slide away with enough of a deficit that was too extreme to be reeled back in! He had to be extremely tough to dig in 2 furlongs out and keep the margin, and to front run in that fashion at the highest level is an extremely admirable achievement for a horse to manage. 

Sadly my Wednesday in the saddle didn’t produce any winners, but we were all treated to watching a champion at work in the Sussex. Paddington was absolutely exceptional dropping back to the mile again, and looks a true champion of this generation for Ballydoyle and Coolmoore. 

The week only got better as Thursday came around as the Royal Ascot hero, Desert Hero got his head in front once again, this time at Group 3 level in the Gordon Stakes for His Majesty The King and Somerville Lodge. He’s been a superstar so far this season and his target now looks the be the oldest classic in the British racing calendar, the St Leger which is extremely exciting prospect! 

As Friday turned, it was Hamish’s turn to show his class once again, this time in the Group 3 L'Ormarins King's Plate Glorious Stakes. He’s a yard favourite who keeps showing up time and time again at a high level, and he’s a horse that has given William’s father, Brian, such exciting days as an owner. He’s especially close to the heart of the Haggas family as Maureen has ridden him out herself the vast majority of the time since he was a 3 year old. 

As Saturday rolled in, sadly the rain did too and really gave the track a real hammering both before, and during racing. Fortunately I got the late call up to ride Sumo Sam for Whatcombe Racing in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry, a race I was lucky enough to win last year above Sea La Rosa. It bought around another pillar to post victory, and in the driving rain she had to be extremely tough to put the field to the sword and stretch away in the last couple of furlongs of the marathon distance of 1 mile 6 furlongs. 

Sadly the racing only survived one more race and after the Stewards Cup, racing was abandoned due to the rain causing the track to become a complete quagmire. It gave me a huge amount of pleasure ending the week as Leading Jockey as Goodwood is one of my favourite tracks in the world, and I absolutely love heading down there each day for the Qatar Goodwood Festival!

Sunday bought about a trip up north to Haydock for the Skybet Sunday Series, and after riding 2 winners on the card aboard Dark Trooper and In The Breeze, and finishing third aboard Nathanael Greene the Sunday Series Jockey’s Challenge £10,000 was sealed on points making the trip more than worthwhile! 

All roads now lead to the Ebor Festival at York, a meeting that William loves targeting horses at, so hopefully it can be as successful as the week that has just past!