ABANDONED - Racing ends early after deluge on Glorious Goodwood's final day

The 28-runner cavalry charge up the straight proved to be the final race of the week with the final three contests called off.

An inspection had followed the Stewards’ Cup, which was the fourth race of seven planned on a day when a large amount of rain fell on the course.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority stewards said: “Following the Inspection, the Stewards have ordered that racing is to be abandoned due to an area of false ground on the bottom bend.”

It was a huge blow to all those with an interest in the final three races, but perhaps no real surprise.

Jockeys, trainers and course officials inspected the course before the announcement was made. Saturday’s fixture began on ground described as soft, good to soft in places, but conditions were changed to heavy, soft in places after the first race. A further going change to heavy was made following the second race with the heavy rain still falling.

Jockey Frankie Dettori said after the third race of the day – which was run during some of the heavier rain of the day – that conditions were as bad as he had ever ridden in, that from a jockey who has been in the saddle for more than 35 years.

Ed Arkell, Goodwood’s Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, gave Racing TV a detailed explanation of how – and why – the meeting ended early.

“The jockeys expressed their concern after the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes that there were some areas on the bends that they weren't happy about. They were happy to race on the straight course for the Coral Stewards' Cup, so we ran that, then went and inspected the bends and there is an area of false ground on the bottom bend that unfortunately we were unable to get around,” he said.

"We were happy that the Coral Stewards' Cup was fine to run because the issue was not on the straight course, it was on the round course. Unfortunately, all three of the final races come around that bend.

"None of us want to end the meeting like this – it's been a very challenging week and I would just like to thank my grounds team; Andrew, Sam, George, Jake and Phil, who have worked unbelievably hard to put this meeting on. It has been really difficult for the past two weeks and they have worked late, early and any time just to get the meeting on. It's really sad for them that we’ve had the weather we've had and it has ended like this.

"It was pouring with rain on Sunday and Monday. The track [grass] is long and we haven't been able to cut it for three days. They started cutting it at half eight at night and didn't finish until one in the morning to make sure we could get the track cut so it was safe on Tuesday.

"They put the graft in then and you can imagine what the track looked like on Wednesday evening [after heavy daytime rain] and they got the track back in time for Thursday.

"Today the weather has been very different from the forecast we were given first thing this morning. We were given light drizzle and heavy drizzle at times, and it's been noticeable this week that the forecast has been changing so much – what is being forecast isn't necessarily happening. It has been challenging and something we might have to deal with a lot more in the future.

"It is always difficult if you are not in control of what's going on. If it's drying you can put water on – you have the ability to make that decision, whether they are right or wrong and you cannot please everybody. If you know what you are dealing with it would help. We haven't put any water on for four weeks and because it has been naturally watered, that has helped the track to cope.

"We work very hard for 51 weeks of the year to ensure this particular meeting is where we want it. You want to run on decent ground that is fair to all, and not slogging through something that looks like a Jump meeting in January. It's disappointing and upsetting but, that said, we have seen some great racing, and hopefully the horses that have run well will go on to do the same at other meetings.

"Highlights have included the victory of Paddington, who was hugely impressive in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. The Qatar Nassau Stakes [won by Al Husn] is always fascinating and it was great to see Highfield Princess back to winning ways in the King George Qatar Stakes. Hopefully, she should go on and win at York. We have also seen some great two-year-old performances and it will be interesting to see how the winners of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Molecomb Stakes [Big Evs] and British EBF Alice Keppell Stakes [Flora Of Bermuda] go on. Hopefully, to bigger and better things.”

It was the second day of five at Goodwood affected by rain – Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes day was also miserable.

In the races that did take place, the Coral Stewards’ Cup went to Aberama Gold, ridden home at 18/1 by Andrea Atzeni for David O’Meara, Atzeni bookending the 2023 Qatar Goodwood Festival with victories in the process.

Having won the first race of the meeting on Lord Riddiford, Atzeni always looked confident as Aberama Gold made eye-catching progress down the centre of the course.

With the 27 runners spread across the track, David O’Meara’s six-year-old saw his race out strongly to score by three quarters of a length. Wokingham runner-up Apollo One (10/1) filled the same position, a length and a half ahead of Bielsa (12/1) in third. Mr Wagyu (14/1) kept on for fourth.

Atzeni, who will move to Hong Kong later this year, said: “It was straightforward, the only thing was the loose horse [Rumstar], which tried to go under the gate and unseated his jockey [Rhys Clutterbuck]. The horse drawn in 14, Mr Wagyu, is a forward-going horse and I wanted to use him as a target. When the ground is that deep you never know how much your horse will find until you ask them. When I let him down he kept going. It's very deep and near the line it's very hard work."

Proven soft-ground performer Monsieur Kodi came out on top in the Coral Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, providing Richard Fahey with his first win of the meeting after a couple of near misses.

Monsieur Kodi (9/2F), who stayed with the majority of the field on the far side, burst clear under Oisin Orr before staying on to prevail by half a length.

Runner-up Capote’s Dream (17/2) had to wait for an out before finishing strongly to close on the winner late on. Many A Star (9/1) was three quarters of a length further back in third. Morning favourite Zaman Jemil was withdrawn at the start.

Orr said: “It is hard work, and I think it’s not far off heavy ground, but this lad has shown he can handle it before, so it was probably a bonus to us. It [the far rail] is the freshest ground and if you can get an advantage anywhere it’s on fresher ground, so we were aiming to get over there and it’s worked out.”

Sweet William (9/4F) continued his ascent through the ranks with a relentless success in the Coral Summer Handicap for John & Thady Gosden, earning a potential tilt at the Ebor later this month.

The son of Sea The Stars, who is a half-brother to Coolmore-bound Hurricane Lane, was briefly challenged by eventual runner-up Adjuvant (13/2) before forging clear to score by almost three lengths. Euchen Glen (10/1) filled third spot in this race for the second year running.

Homebred by Philippa Cooper’s Normandie Stud, Sweet William has now won his last three starts, with today’s success following a novice race at Doncaster and a valuable handicap at Newbury.

Tom Marquand repeated his front-running heroics on Quickthorn from earlier in the week by steering Sumo Sam to a 25/1 shock in the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes.

After setting even fractions in the testing conditions, Paul & Oliver Cole’s three-year-old kept pouring it on under an inspired Marquand, who was a late replacement for Neil Callan.

The 14-furlong contest was effectively all over inside the final quarter mile, with Sumo Sam coming home eight and a half lengths in front of River of Stars (10/3). Time Lock (9/2) edged out odds-on favourite Free Wind for third, a further five and a half lengths behind.

Ralph Beckett was crowned leading trainer at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for the first time, with Tom Marquand collecting a first leading jockey award at the meeting.

Here’s a recap of some other Goodwood action – and a look back at the pictures – from previous days.

Your Glorious Goodwood Ladies’ Day gallery.

Paddington bears fruit in the Sussex Stakes.

Princess takes the King’s crown.

Flying Frankie and fabulous pictures from Friday’s racing.

Watch out later for the outcome of our charity tipping competition.

As reported earlier, Goodwood MD Adam Waterwoth, Coral head of PR Dave Stevens, Mark Storey of the Racing Post, Goodwood director of racing Ed Arkell and I (Chichester Observer sports editor Steve Bone) have each had a go at picking some winners on this final day.

The winner will have £100 from sponsors Coral to give to a charity of their choice.