Cliff horse wins Group 1 Sussex Stakes @ 150/1

Regular subscribers will be aware that Qirat has featured heavily in my various publications and articles during 2025. The Ralph Beckett trained four year old was selected at 15/2 for the Lincoln Handicap in the Cheltenham Festival Update, 16/1 for the Royal Hunt Cup in the Royal Ascot Update and 20/1 for the Bunbury Cup in a preview of the July meeting on sportinglife.com. Needless to say, I backed him on all three occasions - twice he didn't even run - but didn't have a penny on at 150/1 in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday. On a remarkable afternoon for Beckett, who was also responsible for the pair who dead-heated in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes, the Juddmonte owned gelding lowered the colours of some top-class horses including Field of Gold and Rosallion. Partnered by Richard Kingscote, he sat in behind the Ballydoyle pacemaker Serengeti before leading over a furlong out. Pushed out to beat Richard Hannon's triple Group 1 winner by a neck, he was making it three wins from as many visits to the Sussex track. Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Field of Gold came off the bridle entering the final quarter of a mile before staying on at the one pace. It was a flat performance by the grey who had been hailed on a pair with his father Kingman beforehand. 

As discussed, the Kimpton Downs handler trained both Saqqara Sands and Tabiti to dead-heat in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes earlier on the card. The first named was selected for the Listed Eternal Stakes at Carlisle in the Royal Ascot Update, which she duly won in good style. The Oasis Dream filly took another step forward here to gain her first Group success and was arguably unlucky not to win the prize outright having been joined on the line by her stable companion. Judging by the emails I received afterwards, a few clients helped themselves to the 16/1 on offer. 

Switching codes, in between watching the action unfold on the Sussex Downs, I interviewed Olly Murphy for One Jump Ahead. Gordon Elliott's former assistant sent out a personal best 141 domestic winners during 2024/2025, including Resplendent Grey's victory in the Bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of the season. Olly has a strong team of youngsters which features some exciting recruits from the Irish point field. It promises to be another superb campaign for everyone at Warren Chase Stables.