WONDERFUL TONIGHTshines in Gr2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes

Curtain falls on spectacular Qatar Goodwood Festival 2021

Mdmar – England

Photo- Toby Adamson

In presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Academic Affairs Counsellor of the Military Attaché of the Embassy of the State Qatar in the United Kingdom and Khalifa bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, QREC Board Member and Al Shaqab Executive Director,The curtain fell on another spectacular renewal of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Saturday, 31 July, further underlining the event’s status as a standard bearer for international racing in the United Kingdom and Europe. As usual, the beautiful racecourse at Sussex Downs seventh edition of the five-day annual Festival was the scene of action and racing extravaganza with several group contests. The spirit of international competition was evident with runners from different countries and continents chasing an assortment of Group race prizes on all five days.Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Academic Affairs Counsellor of the Military Attaché of the Embassy of the State Qatar in the United Kingdom, presented the trophies to the connections of the winner of the fourth and feature race of the day, the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, a Group 2 for three-year-old and older fillies and mares over 2,800 metres, which was landed by the Christopher Wright-owned WONDERFUL TONIGHT (Le Havre x Salvation) for trainer David Menuisier and jockey William Buick

Star filly Wonderful Tonight too good in Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes

The Christopher Wright-owned Wonderful Tonight (Le Havre x Salvation) was all class when winning the 14-furlong G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes for trainer David Menuisier.William Buick sat the four-year-old second in the early stages as she raced keenly behind the leader.

As the front-running Makawee faded, Buick was left with no choice but to commit, making his challenge under half a mile from home. Wonderful Tonight stretched clear on the stands’ side but was emptying slightly in the closing stages – that early exuberance appearing to be a factor.The two-time Group 1 winner had enough in reserve to see off the staying-on Tribal Craft (Mastercraftsman), ultimately scoring by a comfortable two lengths.Albaflora (Muhaarar) was far away behind as she finished further nine lengths back in third.

The winning trainer Menuisier said: “Wonderful Tonight won a Group 1 over a mile and six furlongs last year, and she is a lot stronger this year. But William came back in and said please don’t run her over a mile and six furlongs again, it really is the end of the world for her … You kind of have to break her stride the whole way as she wants to go. She probably has more speed than last year. You could probably get away with dropping her down in trip, rather than stepping her up … I decided not to run her in the Nassau as I wanted Emma Banks [Lady Bowthorpe, owner] to win the race, so we went for the Lillie Langtry instead … She will probably have a run in the Yorkshire Oaks or at Deauville next. She will then go for the Prix Vermeille before the Arc.”

It was a seventh win of at this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival for Buick, who will end the week as Leading Jockey.

* “mdmar” news site for horse racing and equestrian

Buick said: “It’s a mile and six furlongs. I know she has won over this trip before in Paris last year, but I think she’s a bit speedier now. She doesn’t need to be running over this trip again … To be honest, she races how she always does. She’s energetic and I was delighted to get a lead on her. We went slow and she took it up a fair way out but has stuck on all the way to the line.”

Winning owner Chris Wright said: “It was great to watch … We’d like to get a couple more runs into her before the Arc if we can. There’s the Yorkshire Oaks, which is going to be a tough race, and, depending on the ground, there is the Prix Pomone at Deauville the same weekend. Then I suppose you have to look at the Vermeille, which she ran in last year and was beaten a couple of lengths, but the ground was pretty fast that day.”

The success of the 2021 renewal of the Qatar Goodwood Festival isresounding by all standards with several Qatari-owned horses running in various races and even landing prestigious victories in both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred races. Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess won the Gr1 PA Qatar International Stakes, keeping the coveted title wrapped in the maroon colour for the third in a row and taking the number of Qatari victories in this mega contest to five in seven years. This lion’s share confirms Qatar’s global leadership in Arabian racing. In addition, Lady Princess, the roll of honour of the Qatar International Stakes includes Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Mourtajez in 2016, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani’sTayf in 2017 and Her Excellency Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’sEbraz in 2019 and 2020.

In addition to success in Arabian racing, Al Shaqab Racing’s two-year-old ARMOR won the Gr3 Markel Molecomb Stakes, a feat which promises to be only a first step for the promising colt on his third start to develop into a superstar.

 * “mdmar” news site for horse racing and equestrian

The “Midmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.