MOORE FEELS THE FORCE
Ryan Moore recorded his third victory of the 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festival following the success of the well-supported Land Force (5/2) in the £200,000 G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes over six furlongs.
The two-year-old son of No Nay Never was always prominent and took the lead at the two-furlong pole. Land Force knuckled down well under Moore in the closing stages to fend off all challengers and score a shade cosily by a length from Mark Johnston's Marie's Diamond (9/2) in second.
Moore, who tasted victory earlier this week aboard Watan in the Nginious! Swiss Gin EBF Maiden and Medahim in the Goodwood Racehorse Owners Group Handicap, said: "Land Force is a very fast horse and got away well. To be honest, I was in the lead long enough. I was left there at the two, which is a bit too soon for him, but when I got stuck into him, he was very game and kept responding.
"He ran a very good race in the Norfolk. We felt six furlongs would suit him. He is a very fast horse with a marvellous attitude. He does not need to go any further than six."
Land Force is 20/1 with Betfair for next year's Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
3.00pm Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2)
1 Land Force (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-00 Ryan Moore 5/2 fav
2 Marie's Diamond (Middleham Park Racing) Mark Johnston 2-9-00 Silvestre de Sousa 9/2
3 Shine So Bright (King Power Racing Co Ltd) Andrew Balding 2-9-00 Oisin Murphy 13/2
9 ran
Time: 1m 11.5s
Distances: 1, nk
Tote Win: £3.00 Places: £1.30, £1.80, £2.40 Exacta: £13.60
Aidan O'Brien IRE - 21 Goodwood winners (19 at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
Ryan Moore - 131 winners at Goodwood (44 at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
LAND FORCE PRODUCES VINTAGE PERFORMANCE FOR BALLYDOYLE IN RICHMOND
Team Ballydoyle registered their first winner at the 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festival following Land Force's victory in the £200,000 G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes under Ryan Moore.
The well-backed 5/2 favourite, trained by Aidan O'Brien, ran on strongly close home to score by a length.
Land Force finished third in the G2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, with subsequent G2 Qatar Vintage Stakes winner Rumble Inthejungle in fourth. O'Brien's charge was a convincing winner of a Listed event at Tipperary before today's contest and a step up to G1 company could be on the cards for the colt.
Kevin Buckley, Coolmore's UK representative, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. Land Force battled hard.
"Ryan was delighted with the performance. He got him into a nice position and he ran on well.
"I think six furlongs at the moment could be his favoured trip. It's very exciting that he is by No Nay Never, who has got his first crop of two-year-olds this year and to have a G2 winner at a prestigious meeting at Goodwood is fantastic.
"The Prix Morny or the Phoenix Stakes could be under consideration, but we'll wait till he is home before making any decision and Aidan speaks to the owners."
MARIE'S DIAMOND SHOWS TALENT IN SECOND
Marie's Diamond, who was unsold at last night's Goffs UK Goodwood Sale, came home in second in the G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes, beaten a length by Land Force.
Mark Johnston, trainer of Marie's Diamond, commented: "He got squeezed coming out of the stalls and knocked a fetlock.
"We said seven furlongs next but, Silvestre said no, a galloping track and six so it will probably be the Prix Morny (Deauville, Aug 19).
"For me I am pleased that the horse wasn't sold yesterday, I don't know if the new owner would have kept the horse with me or not. I spoke to one man yesterday who said 'he has run an awful lot'. So has the winner of this race - they are the only two who have run an awful lot!
"It does them no harm. His last three runs were very consistent.
"Clearly, anything you send to the Prix Morny in August, if all goes well, will go for the 1000 Guineas in May (next year). It is all a bit pie in the sky at the moment, but you have got to aim for that!"
Middleham Park Racing director of racing, Tim Palin, commented: "The syndicate voted to keep the horse. The owners voted not to sell at £650,000, - it was fascinating.
"He was rated 98 and is now rated 108. He is in the Champagne Stakes (at Doncaster in September), but the Morny is the race that screams at you."
Silvestre de Sousa, jockey of the second, added: "I was happy with the run. But coming out of the gates I was squeezed out and I lost a length - it was hard to make it up."
