Virgin Bet Celebration Mile
Group 2, Goodwood 15:35
£150,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
1m, Class 1   
Sunday 24th August 2025

1 Jonquil 3/1
2 Saqqara Sands 8/1
3 Arisaig 12/1
6 ran NR: Balmacara Distances: nk, ½l, nk
Time: 1m 36.80s (standard time)

Colin Keane timed it to perfection on the Sussex Downs, delivering Jonquil with a late, decisive thrust to reclaim winning ways.

This is the colt who dazzled in the Greenham first time out, only to find progress stalling since his near miss in the French 2,000 Guineas earlier in the year. Royal Ascot at six proved too sharp, the Lennox over seven here again a shade too short. But a mile — a mile on this track — proved just the tonic.

Keane, in Juddmonte’s famous silks, never panicked. Settled at the rear, he nursed the 3-1 shot into rhythm, angled him out, and asked the question late. Jonquil responded, stretching past Ralph Beckett’s Saqqara Sands inside the final strides, the verdict a neck.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, was quick to hail the significance:

“It’s a huge result and credit to Andrew and the team down at Kingsclere.

“He was nearly a Classic winner but for the barest of margins and obviously we then made an error of judgement dropping him back to six furlongs and it’s just taken us a little while to get him back on track.

“He’s firmly back on track today and the great thing was Colin felt he could maybe get a little bit further, which opens a few more avenues.

“We’ll have to look at the programme book and see what’s available, but he’s definitely a horse you who you wouldn’t shy away from another furlong.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest-run mile and going a better pace he may even get the mile better, but he’s a talented colt and it will be exciting to work out where we go next.

“It most definitely has to be the aim to get him back in Group One company before the end of the year, he was a nose away from being a Classic winner so we’ll be working towards Group Ones. He’s won a Group Two now so the next logical step would be to go Group One.”

From nearly a Classic winner to a colt reborn at Group Two level — Jonquil is firmly back on the march.

SureWIn

Celebration Mile (Group 2)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6)    Jonquil 3 9-1 Andrew Balding Colin Keane 3/1
2 (7) nk Saqqara Sands 3 8-12 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 8/1
3 (5) ½ Arisaig 4 9-4 Charlie Johnston Jamie Spencer 12/1
4 (3) nk Make Me King 5 9-7 Hamad Al Jehani Daniel Tudhope 5/2F
5 (2) 2 Ice Max 4 9-7 K R Burke Sam James 5/1
6 (1) 1¼ Persica 4 9-7 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 7/2
NR 1 (4) Balmacara 4 9-7 Eve Johnson Houghton NON RUNNER

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