Scandinavia (4/1) beat his stablemate Illinois to win the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
Winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket final month, Scandinavia wanted each yard of two miles underneath Cork jockey Wayne Lordan, as he overtook the front-runner Illinois (7/4 favorite) shut residence after a sustained battle.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained duo had been two and a half lengths away from Candy William (4/1). Sadly, the race was overshadowed by a deadly harm to 2021 winner Trueshan, who was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle mid-contest.
Scandinavia, a son of Justify, is the primary three-year-old to take the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup since Stradivarius in 2017.
“He stays without end”
The profitable handler, Aidan O’Brien, stated of the winner:
“I’m delighted. Wayne gave Scandinavia a superb experience. He ran a stunning race at Ascot when Wayne rode him, as he obtained trapped six broad all the best way however he saved coming and coming, after which Ryan rode him at Newmarket and stated he was an excellent horse. He stated he stays without end and may be very elegant.”
Discussing doable future race plans, the Ballydoyle coach said:
“The lads will make these selections [about the St Leger and so on], however clearly Lambourn didn’t go to the King George as a result of Jan Brueghel was going there, so he has his eye on the Voltigeur, after which he may go wherever after that – to an Arc or a St Leger. All of these issues are open, however I’d say this horse seems to be prepared made for the St Leger as he stays without end, dealt with an ease within the floor right here at the moment, and may be very easy.”
One other massive win for Lordan
This yr’s Betfred Derby-winning rider Wayne Lordan stated of his most up-to-date main victory:
“Credit score to Scandinavia, he has improved all yr. He was stepping as much as two miles at the moment in opposition to the older horses; it was a troublesome process, however I believed he stepped ahead fairly properly.
“Illinois is a really real horse, a Group One horse, and this horse was moving into his firm at the moment. He had by no means run in that firm earlier than, so at the moment was going to learn the way sensible he’s. Clearly, he’s a really sensible stayer.
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