Magical Sunset (18/1) was revitalised on her favoured ground as she kicked in the turbos to bag the G3 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes for Richard Hannon and Kevin Stott.
The Amo Racing-owned filly, who had her momentum checked momentarily as she mounted her challenge, produced a decisive late charge up the stands’ rail to score by three-quarters of a length.
Breege (4/1JF) was second in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot and filled the same position here, with Godolphin filly Dream Of Love (15/2) closing from the rear to take third.
Hannon landed this race in 2019 with Billesdon Brook, who went on to G1 success in that season’s Sun Chariot Stakes.
The trainer said: “I think Magical Sunset would have been unlucky had she been beaten. She is much better on this ground – she won the Radley Stakes at Newbury very well on it, and that’s helped her today.
“She looked the best turning in at Sandown the other day and it looked to me like she didn’t get home, so we came back to seven furlongs today and I’m delighted; she won very well.
“The owner [Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing] rang me and was actually pleased – that’s very rare! Group races are very hard to win. My God, there’s a massive bottle of Whispering Angel over there – he’s not getting that! That’s what you call tax…
“Magical Sunset is a really sweet filly. She has always been lovely but she is much better on that ground. She cost a few quid, mind you [€340,000]. She was unlucky in the Goffs Millions. She is getting her revenge slightly and getting her slice of luck.
“I think she is entered in a Group Three in Deauville so she might go there – she’ll have a penalty, obviously. But wherever the soft ground is.”
Stott said: “We were drawn quite wide and I was just trying to get a position. We were pushed wide on the bend and I was half stopped in my run between the three and two [furlong markers].
“To get going again after being checked and to still win with a bit in hand – you could see she was pricking her ears. She was half pulling up on me a bit, but she's won on heavy ground as a two-year-old – and on quick – so she's versatile.
"I was quite lucky the gaps came when they did because they all came over [to the stands' side] and, when you are drawn wide and not up where the pace is, you can be left with nowhere to go. I was lucky the gaps opened and she picked up nicely.
"We [Amo Racing] are having a good season and have some very nice horses. Hopefully we can keep building on that and we still have a couple of nice two-year-olds who have yet to run.”
Breege’s trainer John Quinn said: “Breege coped with the ground, she might like it a bit better, but she coped with it. Well done to the winner, but we are delighted with her.
“She has got invaluable black type at two and three. She is a winner, Royal Ascot placed, but we just want to win at black type race with her, which is well within her compass.”
On her improvement with every run this summer, he said: “She was seventh in the Irish Guineas, which has worked out incredibly well, and she was ready enough to run in Ireland. She ran fantastically at Royal Ascot and she has run fantastically here.”
Jason Hart added: “Breege ran well. I think the winner has obviously had the advantage of the rail, which has probably made the difference.”
2.25pm Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3)
1 Magical Sunset (Amo Racing Limited) Richard Hannon 3-8-13 Kevin Stott 18/1
2 Breege (Chaseform Farm) John Quinn 3-8-13 Jason Hart 4/1JF
3 Dream Of Love (Godolphin) Charlie Appleby 3-8-13 William Buick 15/2
13 ran
Richard Hannon – 24th Qatar Goodwood Festival winner
Kevin Stott – 1st Qatar Goodwood Festival winner
