Victory for Gladius in the final race of the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap, ensured that Andrew Balding claimed the top trainer title at the meeting for a second time.
The Kingsclere handler, who took the award in 2021, edged out Ralph Beckett on the number of placed horses after both sent out four winners throughout the week.
Balding’s victories included Stellar Sunrise in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden on Tuesday, Sir Albert in the Phase Eight Nursery on Thursday and Fox Legacy, who was one of the most impressive winners of the week when dominating Friday’s Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes.
A remarkable meeting for Beckett included victory with 150/1 chance Qirat in Wednesday’s highlight, the G1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes, and both his contenders in the G3 HKJC World Pool Oak Tree Stakes, Saqqara Sands and Tabiti, dead-heating for first place. Push The Limit also scored for the trainer in the Coral Pipped At The Post Winners Handicap.
Balding said: “I can’t complain. If you come to Glorious Goodwood and have four winners, it is a good week. See the Fire was a disappointment in the Nassau Stakes but, if the race had been 24 hours earlier before the rain came, she might have had more of a chance. Apart from that, it has all been positive.’’
Oisin Murphy claimed the top jockey award for a second successive year thanks to a superb week that yielded six winners, including the Balding-trained Stellar Sunrise, Sir Albert and Fox Legacy, and Dubai Treasure in Tuesday’s World Pool Bet With The Tote EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
In addition to Fox Legacy, Murphy rode the first two winners on Friday – Kyle Of Lochalsh in the Coral Goodwood Handicap and Seagulls Eleven in the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
Murphy said: “It has been a great week. I have had winners for a few different trainers, so thanks to them and all the lads behind the scenes. Andrew [Balding] has won the top trainer award again, so fair play to him.
‘‘Unfortunately, I was suspended today so couldn’t ride Gladius. It is always competitive here. Ryan [Moore], William [Buick], Tom [Marquand] and Rossa [Ryan] all had a strong book of rides, so it was nice to get it done.”
Coolmore partnerships comprising Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Westerberg took the top owner award for a second successive year thanks to three victories during the meeting, all of whom were trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Highlights included a 1-2 in Tuesday’s G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup as three-year-old Scandinavia came out on top over Illinois. Whirl powered home in attritional conditions to take the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes on Wednesday by five lengths, while Isaac captured Saturday’s British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden.
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