The Clive Cox-trained and Adam Kirby-ridden Golden Horde (15/2) landed the £200,000 G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes.
The two-year-old son of Lethal Force, who was also trained by Cox, held off the sustained challenge of the well-supported 11/8 favourite Threat, trained by Richard Hannon, to score by three-quarters of a length in the six-furlong event.
Golden Horde was a fine fifth in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June and the Lambourn handler was delighted with today’s victory.
He said: “Golden Horde did it well today. Adam said he felt like his father [Lethal Force] throughout the race. He didn’t feel like he was going very fast.
“Golden Horde is a joy to have. He is improving all the time. He has a bit of size and scope.
“We bought him at the Doncaster Sales last year (£65,000) and we always knew he would keep improving throughout the season with his size.
“Even in his work at home and just saddling him today, we’ve really got him where we want him. He has progressed with racing and it’s just great to have another top horse.
“He is a different colour to Lethal Force but like him, he has a lot of ability!
“He has a great mind which is great with any horse and it’s great to have a winner here.
“Golden Horde is in the Gimcrack and the Morny. We’ll see how he comes out of the race and then see what he is telling us.”
Winning rider Kirby remarked: “Golden Horde is improving. He was still very babyish at Ascot and he lugged across the track for some reason. Clive put a cross noseband on him today and that seemed to help him no end.
“I am really pleased for him and obviously I am pleased for Lethal Force as well. It’s nice for him to get a nice winner on the board and hopefully this lad will do him proud.
“I didn’t feel like I was going that quick on him. He is just like his dad in that respect where he has a high cruising speed and lengthens really well.”
HANNON DISAPOINTED BY THE RESULT BUT BELIEVES IN THREAT
Richard Hannon, trainer of the 11/8 favourite Threat who went down by three quarters of a length to the 15/2 winner Golden Horde in the £200,000 G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes, was disappointed with the result but happy with the colt’s performance.
Hannon commented: “There are no excuses. He was coming to win but he didn’t win. The winner is obviously a very nice horse. He hit the gate all right and travelled right, he was in the right place at the right time, but he got beat.
“Threat is a very good horse. I haven’t lost confidence in him or lessened my admiration of him, but I had hoped he would win there.
“He is always going to be a better three-year-old, and I always hoped he was going to be a Guineas horse.”
Jockey Tom Marquand, added: “There are no excuses. He has run another cracker – we just bumped into a horse with an extra gear over the last half furlong.
“He is a lovely horse and has finished second in two Group Twos, at the highest two-year-old level you can have at the moment. Going forward and as a three-year-old he will be a lovely horse.”
Wayne Lordan, jockey of third-placed Royal Dornoch (25/1), who is trained by Aidan O’Brien, said: “My horse is still a maiden but has improved on each of his runs. He is a nice colt with talent.”
2.25pm Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2), 6f
1 Golden Horde (AlMohamediya Racing) Clive Cox 2-9-00 Adam Kirby 15/2
2 Threat (Cheveley Park Stud) Richard Hannon 2-9-00 Tom Marquand 11/8 fav
3 Royal Dornoch (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 2-9-00 Wayne Lordan 25/1
13 ran
Time: 1m 11.01s
Distances: ¾, 3
Tote Win: £9.10 Places: £2.70, £1.20, £8.00 Exacta: £24.40
Breeding: b c Gleneagles (IRE) – Bridal Dance (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Breeder: Cn Farm Ltd
Clive Cox – 36th Goodwood winner (8 th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
Adam Kirby – 38th Goodwood winner (7th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)