By Peter Moore at Goodwood Day 1 Tuesday 29th July 2025
Scandinavia outlasted his stable mate Illinois in a ding dong finish to the feature race of the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival Meeting to land a one-two for Aidan O’Brien to make it 29 Goodwood Festival winners for the Ballydole master.
However, the race itself was overshadowed by a fatal injury to 2021 winner Trueshan, who was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle mid-way through the race.
“What happened unfortunately was just an accident, mid-race, in a straight line going up the hill,” said James Given, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) director of equine welfare.
“His left hind pastern broke and left him in a situation that wasn’t recoverable from.
“Alan [King] was able to get down there and assess him with the vet and they felt there was no option really but to put him down.”
The O’Brien pair pulled three lengths clear of Sweet William with Wayne Lordan on Scandinavia hunting down Ryan Moore aboard Illinois close home to win by three quarters of a length.
Scandinavia, became the first three-year-old to take the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup since Stradivarius in 2017.
Before the race, there was concern that Scandinavia would last the two mile trip. In receipt of a stone in weight-for-age allowance from Illinois, in a driving finish it could well have made the difference with Lordan riding his 3rd Goodwood Festival winner.
“The lads actually backed this horse for the Derby very early in his career, he was always considered a very good horse,” O’Brien said. “He won his maiden over a mile and a quarter and Wayne was delighted with him at Ascot next time in the Queen’s Vase. He got trapped six-wide but he still didn’t lie down and came back at the line to try and win.
“This was Illinois’s race, all was planned out, but when Ryan said at Newmarket that Scandinavia felt very classy, it was the right thing to do to run the two of them together and see. He’s a great stayer with a great mind. He’s uncomplicated and he handled the ease in the ground well. You couldn’t be more delighted with him.
“You’d imagine he looks a ready-made Leger horse. Lambourn didn’t go to the King George, he’s looking at the Voltigeur, and after that the Arc or the British or Irish Leger. Scandinavia doesn’t have to run again before the Leger if he’s going there, so all the options are there.”
John & Thady Gosden made a flying start to the festival after saddling Westridge to victory in the opening Coral Chesterfield Cup.
Under a confident ride from Billy Loughnane, who was having his first ride for the yard, Westridge hit the front a furlong from home. When Loughnane pushed the button the four-year-old responded to win going away by three and a quarter lengths.
July Stakes winner Zavateri remained unbeaten after denying Morris Dancer in a pulsating finish to the Coral Vintage Stakes.
Stepping up in distance for the first time at seven furlongs had to dig deep under Charlie Bishop to fend off the fast- finishing Morris Dancer by a short head.
Witness Stand caused a major shock in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes at 25-1 for joint trainers Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole, who registered their first ever group winner on the flat.
Before the start there was drama when two-time Lennox States winner Kinross was withdrawn after being kicked by last year’s winner Audience.
Soon after the start, Noble Champion was pulled up by Kieran Shoemark, with the horse appearing to be lame.
Witness Stand was always travelling well and never looked in danger of losing the race under Hollie Doyle.
The Ruth Carr trained Brazen Bolt sprung a surprise in the Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap at 28-1.
A winner at York three weeks ago, Brazen Bolt just managed to hold on to win by a nose from Adrestia under another fine ride from promising claimer Warren Fentiman.