Archivist (16/1) defied joint top weight and a rating of 105 to claim the Coral Golden Mile for Hamad Al Jehani and Wathnan Racing.
In a race with several hard-luck stories, Archivist was kept out of trouble with a wide trip by Callum Rodriguez and picked up nicely in the straight to defeat Cerulean Bay (12/1) by just over a length. Classic (18/1) was a nose further back in third, with Ancient Rome (33/1) fourth.
Successful in a Meydan handicap in March, Archivist finished 20th when sent off favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup on his European return last month.
Al Jehani said: “I knew that Archivist would be placed very well and, of my three runners, I would have chosen him as the winner today. Callum gave him a great ride, which was important in why we were the winners in the end.
“It is really important for us to have a winner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. We are very happy with the result, for sure.”
Rodriguez said: “Archivist looked a great chance and then the draw [20] came out and I was a little bit worried, but it probably did us a favour because we got a good, smooth trip round and he felt good at every stage.
“I would say that the stiff, straight mile at Ascot probably does not play to his strengths. He is a very exuberant horse and the pace today really helped him. That was a good performance under top weight.”
Richard Brown of Wathnan Racing said: “I actually watched the race with William Haggas [the winner’s previous trainer]. He is part of the Wathnan team and was the first to congratulate us. Hamad took this horse to Dubai and did brilliantly with him there. Then to come and produce him to do this – this man is training to an exceptionally high level and it is great for all of the team.
“It has been a superb week. I spoke to Olly Tait this morning and said it had been a good week. The only thing that would turn it into a great week was for Hamad to have a winner, and it is a huge moment.”
David O’Meara said of Cerulean Bay: “He has run an absolutely belting race after only having run on Sunday. He likes it here. He got a nice trip round and was beaten by one who was slightly better than him on the day, but we are delighted with him. He might go to York for the big handicap there, and then we might venture back into Listed or Pattern company.”
Pat Dobbs said of Classic: “He ran super. The ground is a little bit quick for him; I did not get a clear run when I wanted to go.”