BBADMINTONADMINTON | Page 4 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Axelsen and Serena Okuhara enter handed third round of worst defeat world champs of career Thursday, August 2, 2018 CRICKET Dhul-Qa’da 20, 1439 AH Root run out sparks GULF TIMES England collapse and Kohli send-off SPORT Page 3 QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL Qatar Racing’s Lightning Spear lands Sussex Stakes ‘I’m delighted with Lightning Spear. He looked good today, quickened well and travelled well -- he did everything properly’ By Our Correspondent won two G2 events, so he has always London had to run in G1s really.” Lightning Spear had fi nished third in the race last year, besides having fter 15 solid attempts at Group notched up two wins at Goodwood in 1 glory, Qatar Racing’s Light- G2 Celebration Mile last two years. ning Spear powered to an im- David Redvers, racing and bloodstock pressive victory in the Qatar manager to Sheikh Fahad, said, “From ASussex Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood some time ago we felt this was his race, Festival yesterday. and the way he has been running this David Simcock’s ward had some no- year we knew he had a fi ne chance. The table eff orts, including a short-head way the race was run suited him. second to in the Al Shaqab Lockinge “There was a moment when I was Stakes (Gr1) at Newbury in May, com- worried, but he needs riding like that ing into yesterday’s miler. [covered up] because he has such a turn Under Oisin Murphy, the seven- of foot. He’s seen too much daylight on year-old son of Pivotal travelled occasions in races, but fair dues to the smoothly in fourth in yesterday’s con- Simcocks [David and his wife Jenny, test and made good use of the room on who rides the horse each day] because the home straight, quickening up smart they have the key to him. They and the to score by a length and a half. boss were patient and it has paid off .” Michael Stoute-trained Expert Eye Redvers confi rmed that Lightning was second under James Doyle, while Spear would join the Qatar Bloodstock Daniel Tudhope rode David O’Meara- roster of stallions at his Tweenhills schooled Lord Glitters to third. Stud in Gloucestershire, adding: “He’s The win was Simcock’s 28th at one of the best-looking horses in rac- Goodwood and naturally the Newmar- ing, he’s won a stallion-making race ket handler was eff usive in his praise for and he’s by Pivotal.” Lightning Spear. Jenny Simcock, fi ghting back tears of “I’m delighted with Lightning Spear. joy, said: “That means everything. I’m He looked good today, quickened well spoilt and ride him every day, and he’s a and travelled well - he did everything gentleman, a very expressive horse, and properly. Oisin has grown up with the he leads the string.” horse, he is a very confi dent jockey and Murphy said: “The pace was slow, he was very patient waiting for the gap but he relaxed, and I got a little bit of today. Sheikh Fahad loves this horse cover off James Doyle [on runner-up and he will be absolutely delighted. Un- Expert Eye]. fortunately, he can’t be here today, but “I never ever get nervous before G1s he’ll be made up,” said Simcock, who - before the Derby and that I like mak- has also enjoyed Classic success this ing fun of the other jockeys - but I was year with Teppal in the Poule d’Essai nervous today and down at the start des Pouliches at Longchamp. I was trying to hide it. I am over the “Lightning Spear has done very lit- moon - what a horse! And what a train- tle wrong apart from win a G1 up until ing performance. He deserves to win a now. He is a lovely horse to train and a Oisin Murphy rides Qatar Racing’s Lightning Spear to victory in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Gr1) at Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim and Zuzanna major G1 and at seven years of age, it is lot of work goes into him. He has placed outstanding. in six G1s I think and has never really let horse and is very talented. To win a G1 ing something diff erent all the time, click, with that little bit of luck that we the Qatar Racing team, the yard, but for “I always refl ect on races and I pos- us down, though he was little bit incon- is extra special. He was going really well trying to change something. To see haven’t had at times. the horse to get his G1 like that is great. sibly left a G1 behind me this season on sistent last season. To win a G1 is not and I thought if he got a gap he would him fi ll up and quicken up like that was “I am just really pleased for the It’s nice to win a G1 at Goodwood and this lad. I am lucky I have a good boss in easy and you have to accept it. win. They didn’t go much of a pace, but great, and it is the horse we see at home horse. More pleased for the horse than any G1 victory is great. He has run just Sheikh Fahad and a supportive trainer “Lightning Spear is a wonderful that did not really matter. You are try- an awful lot. It is just getting it all to anybody. It is great for Sheikh Fahad, twice out of G1 company for me and in David Simcock.” SPOTLIGHT ROUND-UP Ambassador Medahim notches another al-Khater hails victory for Al Shaqab By Our Correspondent well drawn here that always zler in the 2400m Move Over To Qatar-UK ties London helps.” Matchbook Handicap. Francois Rohaut-trained Mu- With Jimmy Quinn in the atar’s ambassador four years ago and has added raaqib won the Qatar Interna- saddle, the three-year-old re- to the United King- more momentum to the event or the second straight tional Stakes, the Group 1 feature sponded willingly to Quinn’s dom, Yousef bin Ali on all levels. Therefore, sig- day in the fi ve-day Qatar for Arabian horses by a length urgings to edge ahead close Q al-Khater, hailed nifi cant benefi ts are gained Goodwood Festival, Al and a half from His Highness home to score by a length from the strong relations between from the Festival every year, Shaqab Racing’s colours Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al- Hughie Morrison-trained Corgi, Qatar and the United King- especially as it enhances the Fwere in the winner’s enclosure Thani’s Ebraz. helmed by Jim Crowley, in sec- dom in various fi elds. presence of Qatar’s equestri- Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) chairman Issa al-Mohannadi with top-weight Medahim top- Ebraz, trained by Qatar-based ond. “A few days ago, His High- an sport in such world-class (second from left), Qatar’s ambassador to the UK Yousef bin Ali al-Khater ping the seven-furlong Good- Julian Smart, had fi nished run- In the fi rst race of the card, ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim gatherings. (second from right) and QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi wood Racehorse Owners Group ner-up in last year’s race too. Lil Rockerfeller, a top-class bin Hamad al-Thani paid “It also refl ects the atten- (right) at Qatar Goodwood Festival. Handicap. Richard Spencer’s young hurdler, picked up a victory in an offi cial visit to the Unit- tion and support received The owner-trainer-jockey training career took another big the Matchbook Betting Pod- ed Kingdom”, ambassador from the senior offi cials in trio of Al Shaqab, Richard Han- step forward today when Rum- cast Goodwood Handicap by 15 al-Khater said at the Qatar Qatar as demonstrated by the non and Ryan Moore had landed ble Inthejungle won the G3 Mar- lengths handing Neil King his Goodwood Festival. presence of His Excellency Tuesday’s Nginious! Swiss Gin kel Insurance Molecomb Stakes fi rst success at Goodwood. “The visit was very fruitful Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- EBF Maiden with Watan. (Gr3) over fi ve furlongs. Under Silvestre De Sousa, and during which the depth Thani, President of Qatar Ol- Yesterday, Medahim, the Rumble Inthejungle is a son Lil Rockerfeller made the run- of the ties between the two ympic Committee, during the four-year-old son of Kodiac, of Bungleinthejungle, who won ning and ground his rivals into countries were stressed and a fi rst two days of the Festival,” came with a tremendous late run the Markel Insurance Mole- a long submission, scoring by 15 number of agreements signed added ambassador al-Khater. to collar Mark Johnston’s Vale Of comb Stakes in 2012. Ridden by lengths and half a length from for the interests of the two Speaking about the strong Kent, scoring by a neck. Tom Queally, the two-year-old Altaayil and Imphal. countries.” partnership between Qatar “Medahim has been unlucky scored by two and a half lengths Under The Covers, trained He added: “Qatar Good- and the UK, the ambassa- in a few races, but he always tries and a neck from Life Of Riley and near Chepstow in Wales by Ron wood Festival has become a dor said: “No doubt there are very hard and it’s great that he Royal Ascot winner Soldier’s Harris, won the Chelsea Bar- hallmark in the United King- strong relations and strategic has come here today and won a Call.