Qatar Goodwood Festival kicks off in UK today

QREC – Goodwood

photos – Juhaim

The famed Goodwood Racecourse is set to host the kick off of the Qatar Goodwood Festival today, Tuesday. The annual five-day Festival is being organised for the fourth time in a row following Qatar’s sponsorship of the event, which started in 2015. This year’s edition is expected to be a huge success given the very careful preparations by the organisers. The Festival will last up to next Saturday with various races held every day. Seven races will be run tomorrow and Qatar’s horses will be present, representing top studs, including Al Shaqab, Umm Qarn, Al Shahania and Qatar Racing.

Qatar’s sponsorship has added plenty of momentum and media dimension as it has led to increasing the prize money, which in turn has motivated numerous horse owners, trainers and jockeys to participate in the Festival every year

Day 1 will see good Qatari presence at the races, which will also see well-known runners and connections. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Tuff Rock will run in Race 1, Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+). David Simcock’s ward will be ridden by Harry Bentley in the 1m2f race

Qatar Racing Limited’s Federal Law will be saddled by Archie Watson and ridden by Oisin Murphy in Race 2, Qatar Vintage Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo) (7f).

The third race in the card, Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) (7f), will have 12 runners in the fray, including Al Shaqab’s Karar, who will be saddled by F-H Graffard and steered by Gregory Benoist. Ann Cowley’s Tip To Win will be there as a ward of Roger Teal and will be helmed by David Robert. The three-year-old grey colt ran in Doha on more than one occasion. He won Al Rayyan Stakes (2yo) in December last year and Al Biddah Mile (3yo) in February this year. The Dereck Smith, Mrs Magnier, Michael Tabor and Stonestreet Stables-owned Spirit Of Valor will be in the fray as well. The David O’Brien-schooled colt will be ridden by Ryan Moore

Race 4, Qatar Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) will be over one of the longest races of the Festival; that is, two miles. There will be seven runners, including the Queen-owned Call to Mind, who will be saddled by William Haggas and ridden by James Doyle. B E Nielsen-owned Stradivarius will be there with trainer John Gosden and jockey Andrea Atzeni. Dereck Smith, Mrs Magnier, Michael Tabor, David O’Brien, Ryan Moore will cooperate again, but this time through Idaho

Two-year old maidens will compete in Race 5, the 6f Swiss Gin EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 2). Al Shaqab’s Watan will be there with trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Ryan Moore.

The sixth race in the card will be the Chelsea Barracks Handicap Stakes (Class 2) (4yo+) (5f)

The day will then be concluded with the 1m Matchbook Time To Move Over Fillies’ Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+). Al Shaqab’s Labrega will be there. The three-year-old bay filly will be saddled by Hugo Palmer and steered by Ryan Moore