Quickthorn storms to victory as Qatar Goodwood Festival begins

Doha, Qatar: In presence of Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi Chairman of the Qatar Equestrian Club (QREC), the 2023 renewal of the Qatar Goodwood Festival kicked off yesterday, and will continue up to August 5. 

The world-famous five-day Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing season in the UK and Europe. Held on the world's most beautiful racecourse, the Festival features class racing, with several black type races bearing the name of Qatar. 

The opening day of this year’s edition of the QREC-sponsored Festival had an eight-race card, where top-class racing was on display at the beautiful racecourse which was built in 1802.

The feature event was the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. Al Mohannadi crowned the winners of the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes.

QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi crowns the winners of Gr.1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. 

Present on the opening day as well were QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Marketing Director Salem Khejaim Al Adbi, QREC Public Relations and External Communications Director Dr Nasser Ahmed Al Hamar, and QREC CEO Office Director Saoud Hamad Al Hababi. 

Quickthorn wins Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup 

Nothing short of phenomenal can describe the performance of Quicktorn (Nathaniel x Dafffydowndilly), a scintillating winner of the Gr.1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes on the opening day of the 2023 Goodwood Festival. 

Trained by Hughie Morrison and sporting the silks of Lady Blyth, Quickthorn took on ten rivals over the marathon trip of 3,200m and took the bull by the horns under jockey Tom Marquand. 

Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates after winning the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

Already a dual Gr.2 winner prior to the depart of the Al Shaqab Racing Goodwood Cup Stakes, the battle-hardened stayer was sent straight to the front by Marquand and quickly build up a commanding lead over his ten rivals. 

The eventual third Coltrane (Mastercraftsman) led the chasing pack, but their effort was in vain as the six-year-old Quickthorn had put the race to bed early in the home straight and went on to win by six lengths at the line. Finding her stride late on, Emily Dickinson (Dubawi) stayed on late in the day to snatch second place from Coltrane. 

A nine-time winner in his career and rather late in plundering a first Gr.1 victory, Quickthorn has built up a great partnership with Tom Marquand, who has now won five races onboard the gelding, and who was delighted with the combinations success in the Al Shaqab Racing Goodwood Cup Stakes 

“He's a warrior in his own right”, said Marquand.

“I've had a bit of fun on him before on big days and he just loves bowling away and putting everyone else to the sword. It was a magnificent performance," Marquand said.

"It's plain and simple what we are going to do on him and it's testament to him that they still couldn't stop him. He's a hell of a lot of fun. We knew what he could do and you know he's going to be there for you in a fight, but he didn't even need to do that today."

Bred by his owner, Quickthorn is the most successful of five winners out of Daffydowndilly (Oasis Dream), herself a triple scorer and daughter of Listed winner Art Eyes (Halling).