Shadwell’s filly Al Husn caused a surprise when winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes under Jim Crowley on day three of the QREC-sponsored Qatar Goodwood Festival at the Goodwood Racecourse, UK, on Thursday.
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad al-Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, was present on the occasion and crowned the winners of the day’s feature, the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes. The five-day Festival will conclude on Saturday.
Also present on the day were ambassador of Qatar to the United Kingdom Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Chairman of Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohamed al-Darwish, QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi, QREC Director of Marketing Salem Khejaim al-Adbi, QREC Director of Public Relations and External Communications Dr Nasser Ahmed al-Hamar and Director of the QREC CEO Office Saoud Hamad al-Hababi.
The echoes of the events of the first two days of the five-day Festival, have been very high hailed given their outstanding success in terms of both organisation and top-quality racing as well as the large-scale participation of many stars, especially with the increasing attendance of racegoers.
The Qatari success on the second day has added to resounding success with Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Ghadeer landing the Group 1 PA Qatar International Stakes, keeping the title in Qatari hands for the fifth straight year and cementing Qatar’s standing as the world’s leader in Arabian racing.
Yesterday, Shadwell’s Al Husn caused an upset by winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes. After the victory of Hukum in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last Saturday, the operation added another Group 1 with the four year-old, who got the better of Above the Curve. Titleholder Nashwa finished third, in front of French filly Blue Rose Cen, who endured a nightmare finish.
Al Husn produce a shock as she gate-crashed what was billed as a duel between last year's French Oaks winner Nashwa and this year's victor Blue Rose Cen. Star French filly Blue Rose Cen's chances disappeared when her jockey Aurelien Lemaitre found his path down the rails blocked by Irish raider Above The Curve. Al Husn's jockey Jim Crowley then passed Above The Curve and had enough in the tank to hold off a renewed challenge from the Irish challenger.
Jockey Crowley said after the victory: "It's been pretty turbulent time, but she's so tough. She's not a big filly, but is an absolute little terrier. She's improved with every run – it's great to nick a race like that with her. She's a very good filly. We were just in the right place at the right time. It's the nature of the track. When I saw the French filly had that draw I thought they needed a bit of luck – we had that luck today."
Trainer Roger Varian added: "She's a remarkable filly. The truth is none of us really knew how good she was, she just beats what's in front of her but she's got an admirable attitude. It's a fantastic race steeped in prestige and one of the magical races for fillies to win – it's very special. We'll enjoy today but she's well entered up. She's in the Prix Jean Romanet later this month, the Yorkshire Oaks too, although I don't know about a mile and a half. Later in the year races like the Prix de l'Opera will be mentioned and who knows, something might be at Santa Anita for her."
King George Qatar Stakes feature today
The racing action and thrill continue on the fourth day of the Festival today, with an eight-race card, which will kick off with the Magnolia Cup presented by Education Above All for Thoroughbreds. The 1100m race is for female jockeys only, including the Qatari rider, Maryam al-Jaber.
The main attraction of the fourth day is the King George Qatar Stakes; a Group two contest for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds. The favourite of this five-furlong sprint is the leading British sprinter Highfield Princess who was last seen at Royal Ascot where she was placed in both the King's Stand Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. She faces ten rivals in the feature race on day four of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.