In one of the most astonishing results in recent horse racing history, Qirat, sent off at odds of 150-1, claimed victory in the prestigious Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The gelding, previously considered a pacemaker and an outsider after finishing 27th in the Royal Hunt Cup Handicap, stunned the racing world with a performance that defied all expectations.
Qirat led the race from an early stage alongside Serengeti, assumed to be setting the pace for more fancied contenders. As the race approached its final stages, the expected charge from odds-on favourite Field Of Gold failed to materialize. Instead, it was Rosallion who launched a late bid, but Qirat, under a well-judged ride by Richard Kingscote, held on gamely to secure a neck victory.
The result marked the longest-priced Group One winner in Britain since the grading system’s inception in the 1970s. Kingscote, reflecting on the surprise outcome, admitted the win was “a bit surreal,” and praised Qirat’s consistency in pace, noting the plan had been to run steady 12-second furlongs from the start.
Trainer Ralph Beckett, though surprised, acknowledged that the race played out perfectly for Qirat. Rivals simply gave him too much freedom at the front, and he took full advantage. Beckett credited Kingscote’s ability to judge the pace and exploit the opportunity, particularly on a course known to reward front-runners.
Field Of Gold’s trainer conceded that the favourite didn’t handle the undulating Goodwood track well and that ignoring the early pace proved costly for the rest of the field.
Attention now turns to the Nassau Stakes, where See The Fire stands out among a field of just five. She faces stiff competition from a talented group of three-year-olds, including Oaks runner-up Whirl, Coronation Stakes winner Cercene, and Bedtime Story. Despite their youth, See The Fire’s strong recent form makes her a serious contender to land this Group One feature.
Elsewhere, Best Secret, Coppull, Merchant, and Ruby’s Profit are among the key runners on a competitive Thursday card at Goodwood, each with the potential to impress in their respective events.
