Qatar Vintage Stakes |
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| Group 2, Goodwood 14:35 £200,000 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 26th July 2016 | |
1 War Decree 6/4F
2 Thunder Snow 13/2
3 Boynton 2/1
NR: Larchmont Lad (IRE)
9 ran Distances: 1¾l, 1l, ½l
TIME 1m 25.75s (slow by 1.75s)
War Decree justifies strong support by landing a rough Qatar Vintage Stakes
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The Aidan O'Brien-trained War Decree (6/4 favourite) ran out a comfortable one and three-quarter length winner under Ryan Moore to provide his trainer with his 16th winner at Goodwood and his 14th at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Moore settled the son of War Front in behind the leaders early on with the two-year-old travelling well throughout the seven-furlong contest.
In the home straight, O'Brien's charge took a while to respond to Moore's urgings but, approaching the furlong pole, came to challenge Thunder Snow for the lead. War Decree quickened up well inside the last half-furlong to assert clear of his rivals and win readily.
Kevin Buckley, UK Representative for Coolmore, said: "War Decree has definitely improved from the Superlative Stakes last time. We had a 3lb advantage today, he is still a little green but that was an exciting performance.
"It did look a rough race but being by War Front he acted well on the ground and that is why we decided to come here. He can stay at this distance or step up a little bit. We might look at the Champagne Stakes or the National Stakes. Going to America is certainly a possibility given his pedigree.
"Ryan was very complimentary. War Decree is definitely improving and has come on a lot from the Superlative. He is still learning though - he's still a bit on the green side - but he did that really well.
"He's very nicely bred. He's a second foal, out of a Street Cry mare and from the family of Ticker Tape. The signs have been so good for War Front and he is a son of Danzig, which crosses well with Galileo mares, so we are seeing a lot of those types of bloodlines crossing the Atlantic to visit him."
Buckley also paid homage to the Ballydoyle handler. He said: "Aidan is a genius. The way he can improve animals is unbelievable and he has had another successful season with the horses staying healthy which is the most important factor."
Moore, registering his 115th winner at the Sussex venue and his 29th at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, said: "Like all of Aidan's two-year-olds, he has improved a great deal from Newmarket. Every run, he has progressed and he is a very well-balanced and good-moving horse.
"He's a nice type and was still green when he got there - he still had a look and his head went around - and I would say they he will improve again. I felt that we could turn the Newmarket form around. We were getting 3lb and I thought inexperience cost him the last day. Aidan's horses all seem to progress and this lad certainly has."
Qatar Vintage Stakes
£200,000 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (1) | War Decree (USA) 6/4f | R L Moore 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 2 | |
| 2nd | (2) | 1¾ | Thunder Snow (IRE) 13/2 | James McDonald 9-1 |
S bin Suroor | 2 |
| 3rd | (8) | 1 | Boynton (USA) 2/1 | James Doyle 9-4 |
C Appleby | 2 |
| 4th | (7) | ½ | Pleaseletmewin (IRE) 33/1 | Jim Crowley 9-1 |
R M Beckett | 2 |
| 5th | (3) | nk | Repton (IRE) 25/1 | P J Dobbs 9-1 |
R Hannon | 2 |
| 6th | (6) | 2¼ | Isomer (USA) 10/1 | J P Spencer 9-1 |
A M Balding | 2 |
| 7th | (9) | nk | Jackhammer (IRE) 33/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-1 |
W J Knight | 2 |
| 8th | (10) | 1¼ | Medieval (IRE) 16/1 | L Morris 9-1 |
P F I Cole | 2 |
| 9th | (5) | 9 | Hakeem (FR) 33/1 | Harry Bentley 9-1 |
R Hannon | 2 |
| NR | (4) | Larchmont Lad (IRE) 6/1 | S M Levey 9-1 |
R Hannon | 2 |
GODOLPHIN PAIR IN THE MONEY
Irish raider War Decree ran out a ready winner of the Group Two Qatar Vintage Stakes, holding the Godolphin duo Thunder Snow and Boynton.
The winner was gaining revenge on Boynton, who beat him by three-quarters of a length in the Gr.2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting earlier this month. Today Boynton had to carry a 3lb penalty, and ran well under the burden.
War Decree, the 6/4 favourite, won by one and three-quarters of a length from the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Thunder Snow, while Boynton, from Charlie Appleby's stable, was a length further back in third.
Bin Suroor said of Thunder Snow: "He is improving and is a horse for next year. We're very pleased with him.
"He ran well at Royal Ascot [sixth in the Coventry Stakes], but I think he prefers this faster ground. I think the Solario Stakes [at Sandown] will be the race for him next."
Appleby said of Boynton: "The penalty didn't help, but the winner has done it well and looks to have come on from Newmarket.
"The straight course at Newmarket was more testing than this track, and our horse looked a little more inexperienced today coming around a turn. He's a horse that will appreciate stepping up in trip, and you could see that he was staying on towards the end.
"It is disappointing not to win, but taking everything into account he has run well."
