Stradivarius Lands Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes for Fourth Time on the Spin
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Jurgen Klopp named LMA Manager of the Year PAGE 14 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 Stradivarius lands Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes for fourth time on the spin HE mighty stayer Qatar Goodwood Festival 2020 kicks off with top quality racing in UK Stradivarius, trained by John Gosden, cre- ated history on Day 1 Tof the Qatar Goodwood Festi- val by becoming the first horse to win the G1 Al Shaqab Good- wood Cup four times, adding to his wins in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He previously shared the honor of three Goodwood Cup wins with Double Trigger (1995, 1997, 1998) on Tuesday. It was Nayef Road who took the seven-strong field along.H e still held the advantage enter- ing the straight, with Stradivar- ius looking a bit short of room. It was not until inside the final furlong that Stradivarius, with Frankie Dettori astride, found the opening and quickened im- pressively, taking the lead half a furlong out and recording an ultimately cosy length success over Nayef Road, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Andrea Atzeni. Stradivarius, winner of Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup 2020, at the Goodwood Racecourse in UK on Tuesday. Space Blues winner of Qatar Lennox Stakes 2020. The second favourite, this season’s G1 Irish Derby win- ner Santiago (trained by Aid- Qatar Goodwood Festival is a world-famous five- an O’Brien) held every chance day festival and one of the highlights of the flat two furlongs out, but was un- racing season. Held on the world’s most beautiful able to quicken in the final fur- long and finished third under racecourse, the Festival features class racing with Ryan Moore. several black-type races bearing the name of Trainer John Gosden, said: “It’s beautiful ground, Qatar. The Qatar-sponsored annual Festival kicked but slow ground – is some off on Tuesday (July 28) and will continue up to achievement. Stradivarius the finale on Saturday, August 1. Day One featured had to work for it today. He has been in tremendous form eight races and the most important of them were since Royal Ascot. But I knew the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes, the that you keep piling those big races on. He ran brilliantly in Gr2 Qatar Lennox Stakes and the Class 2 Qatar the Coronation Cup and obvi- Handicap Stakes. While this year’s renewal is held ously the Gold Cup before this, in exceptional circumstances due to the COVID-19 so he is going to have a fresh- en up now. He is a fabulous challenges, the opening day came in ideal horse. Let us hope Enable and surroundings and saw top-quality racing. Stradivarius are in top order (for the Arc). Frankie will have to decide what he is riding, I probably know the answer, but that will be his decision.” Smooth success for Space Blues in Qatar Lennox Stakes Space Blues was the comfort- able winner of the seven-fur- long G2 Qatar Lennox Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby. Only Spoofing on way to winning the Qatar Handicap Stakes 2020. (PICS: GOODWOOD) The four-year-old Dubawi colt was winning at G2 level for the first time in his career, having twice been placed at G1 level. Held up towards the rear, Space Blues was traveling well, Ebraz – World’s highest-rated Arabian – under William Buick, and made smooth headway to challenge two furlongs out. Entering the final furlong, he shot clear and never looked in any danger as heads list of entries for feature race he came home two lengths to the good of Duke Of Hazzard, TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ParisLongchamp on Arc week- ARO Finance and Com- trained by Paul & Oliver Cole DOHA end is the second stage while mercial Director Genny and ridden by David Prob- the HH The Amir Sword, high- Haynes is looking forward to ert. Escobar, trained by David IN a year full of challenges, light of Qatar’s annual Febru- the race saying: “We are most O’Meara, finished third under the Arabian Racing Organisa- ary Festival, concludes the grateful for the continued Daniel Tudhope. tion (ARO) is delighted that challenge. support by Qatar Racing and Charlie Appleby, said: Qatar Racing and Equestrian This year, on the back of Equestrian Club and Good- “I was delighted with Space Club (QREC) confirmed that his 2019 wins at Goodwood wood racecourse of UK Ara- Blues. He got a nice clean run the Qatar International Stakes and ParisLongchamp, Ebraz bian racing at this most testing round there. There was plenty would go ahead as part of the won a record-breaking third time. Though our season has of pace on and William was Qatar Goodwood Festival HH The Amir Sword, and in been pushed back in the calen- keen to keep it simple. It was 2020 (28 July – 1 August). doing so claimed the Doha dar due to the current circum- a good performance.” The most valuable race of Triple Crown. His place in stances, we are all delighted to their calendar, the one-mile Arabian racing history is more have the opportunity to show- Only Spoofing gets up contest will be held on the re- than deserved. case our sport with a top-level close home winning scheduled date of Saturday, Qatar Racing and Eques- race in front of a crowd eager Qatar Handicap Stakes August 1st, and is the first in trian Club (QREC) CEO for live racing.” A tremendous finish to the five- front of a crowd of invited Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi furlong Qatar Handicap saw race-goers at the Goodwood commented: “Supporting and The List the Jedd O’Keeffe-trained Only racecourse in England. Promoting Arabian racing at Spoofing get up close home Twelve entries have been this difficult time is an achieve- 1. Bel’izam (FR); Trainer: Damien De Watrigant (FR) under Kieran O’Neill to deny received (subject to eligibility), ment which QREC has been 2. Deryan (FR); Didier Guillemin (FR) long-time leader Acclaim The however at the top of that list able to realise through coor- 3. Ebraz; Julian Smart (QA) Nation, trained by Eric Alston is His Highness Sheikh Mo- dination with ARO and the 4. Lightning Bolt (FR); K Augenbroe (NL) and ridden by Jason Hart, won hammed bin Khalifa Al Tha- British Horseracing Authority 5. Mehdaaf Athbah; Philip Collington by a neck. A Momentofmad- ni’s Ebraz, returning, like 2017 (BHA) and we do appreciate 6. Shaheer (AE); Jayme Plumb ness, trained by Charlie Hills, winner HH Sheikh Abdullah their cooperation. This year’s 7. Storm Troupour (US); Okbah Aashour 8. Tayf (FR); Thomas Fourcy (FR) finished third under William bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Tayf, for edition will be exceptional as 9. Tijaary (FR); James Owen Buick. Kieran O’Neill, said: a fourth consecutive year. it comes during the Covid-19 10. Zayin Angkor Centurion; P J Hammersly “I was in a nice rhythm, and The £200,000 Group 1 pandemic and the related new 11. Abiyah Athbah; P J Hammersly by the time I got him in a full PA event forms the first stage challenges. Therefore, racing 12. Flying High (FR) K Augenbroe (NL) stride, he got going and was do- of the Doha Triple Crown, the at the Qatar Goodwood Festi- (All entries subject to eligibility) ing it nicely at the end.” (TNN) Qatar Arabian World Cup at val will remain special as ever.” 14 Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Sports FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar would be an historic one: Xavi repeatedly as a replacement then became coach, also said Spaniard says coaching Barca for Setien, but club presi- he thought Qatar would host a dent Josep Maria Bartomeu “historic” World Cup in 2022. remains his primary goal It will be an historic Cup, insists he is sticking with his “It will be an historic Cup, without a doubt. People current coach. without a doubt. People are AFP Tuesday in the Madrid sports are going to be surprised “I have an excellent re- going to be surprised at what MADRID newspaper Marca. lationship with Xavi and we the country is like. In general, “But now I am focused at what the country is talked about many issues. But there are a lot of prejudices XAVI Hernandez, who is on Al Sadd, excited about like. In general, there are next year Quique Setien has a and a lot of unfounded criti- coaching Al-Sadd in Qatar, the new season. When Barca a lot of prejudices and a contract and he is the one we cism. Qatar has everything: a says his “primary goal” is to comes, in the short or long lot of unfounded criticism. hired,” Bartomeu told Barce- small, hospitable and gener- coach Barcelona where he won term, it will come,” he said, lona-based sports newspaper ous country,” he said. a host of trophies, but he is fo- adding that he did not want Qatar has everything: a Mundo Deportivo on Sunday. He added that he looked cused on his current job. to destabilise the current small, hospitable and Xavi has been quaran- forward to seeing former Bar- Xavi also said he was “fine” coach, Quique Setien. generous country. tined in Qatar after catching celona teammate Lionel Messi after testing positive for coro- “Above all, we have to re- COVID-19. playing at the World Cup. navirus. “I do not hide, and I spect Quique Setien and I Xavi Hernandez “I feel good, although “I see Leo playing until he have always said, that my pri- wish the team all the best,” isolated, logically.