Favored Field of Gold’s Stablemate Wins G1 Sussex at Goodwood
G2 Pegasus F&M Turf Berth Up for Grabs in Thursday’s G1 Nassau
Mandatory 20-Cent Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Juddmonte’s Qirat, supplemented for 70,000 euros to ensure a solid pace for the benefit of heavily favored stablemate Field of Gold, forgot to stop and captured Wednesday $1.5 million Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood, earning a berth in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Qirat, who was 27th in a field of 30 in his most recent start at Royal Ascot, prevailed by a neck in the mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up under Richard Kingscote on the second day of Great Britain’s Glorious Goodwood Festival. Field of Gold never got untracked and finished a non-threatening fourth.
Qirat, who was rated at 150-1 in England, paid off at odds of 61-1 in the U.S. Although viewed as a rank outsider who was only entered to enhance the chances of multiple-Group 1 winner Field of Gold, Qirat is out of the dam who produced Bluestocking, the filly who captured last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).
The Pegasus World Cup Turf, to be contested at 1 1/8 miles on turf, will be a supporting feature to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Gulfstream’s Jan. 24 program, along with the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2).
The Nassau Stakes (G1), whose winner will earn a berth in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, will be featured on Thursday’s Goodwood program. Trainer Aidan O’Brien will make a bid for his sixth victory in the 1 ¼-mile stakes for fillies and mare with Whirl, a heavy favorite in a select field of five. Andrew Balding-trained See The Fire, viewed as the most serious threat to Whirl, will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, a familiar face who has ridden during Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet the past two European off seasons.
Mandatory 20-Cent Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday
A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be held Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for six racing days following a July 13 mandatory payout.
Friday’s Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $150,000 on a program that marks the return of turf racing following a month break. Friday’s six-race sequence will feature two of the day’s three turf races.
Saturday’s program will be headlined by the $75,000 Bear’s Den, a mile stakes for 3-year-olds on turf. Sunday’s feature, the $70,000 Warrior Pride Handicap, will close out the mandatory Rainbow 6 payout sequence.
About The Stronach Group and 1/ST
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.