Goodwood, England: The Group 1 Sussex Stakes, Glorious Goodwood’s showpiece race which is excitingly referred to as the ‘Duel on the Downs’, exceeded all expectations when it delivered another high-quality contest on Wednesday.
Although there might have been little for Team Godolphin to cheer, after Night Of Thunder and Belardo failed to raise a challenge, there was no denying that racegoers were treated to yet another masterclass by the seemingly indisputable Solow.
Ridden with supreme confidence by Maxine Guyon, the handsome grey by former Dubai World Cup winner Singspiel, repelled the challenge of pace setter Arod to record a fourth Group 1 success of season.
Records will show that the winning margin was half a length, but Solow could really have won by further as he deservingly joined an elite club of recent great winners of the £1million (Dh5.7 million) contest led by Frankel, Kingman and Toronado.
Gabrial, a 60/1 outsider ran a blinder tofinish third.
“He is unbelievable. He’s won four Group Ones this year - it’s crazy,” said Guyon, who was on board the horse when he landed the Group 1 Dubai Turf (formerly Dubai Duty Free) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.
“He is easy to ride. He doesn’t pull. After he uses his turn of foot, he stops a little bit, which is why he doesn’t win easy, but he’s really good.
“For a jockey, he is the best. I think he is the best horse in my career.”
Head, a former champion jockey in France, added: “He’s great. He is getting a bit lazy with age, too, but he does exactly what he needs to.
“He’s a hell of a horse. It’s amazing. He’s kind and you can put him anywhere.
“I love coming to England and I like to go abroad, to go to America for the top-class races. His next race will be the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October.”
The Sussex Stakes had lost some of its sheen when dual 2000 Guineas hero Gleneagles was pulled out of the race, with his connection declaring the rain-softened ground would not suit.
Meanwhile, Godolphin were without luck in the Group 2 Gordon Stakes as well as Royal Ascot winner Space Age failed to reproduce that winning form and had to settle for fifth place behind the determined winner Highland Reel, the mount of Joseph O’Brien, who is making the most of top-jockey Ryan Moore’s absence from the saddle due to injury.
Ridden by William Buick, Space Age appeared to have every chance when he led approaching the two furlong post, but failed to find more when asked for his effort, before weakening the final furlong.
Godolphin’s Rouleau finished a well-deserved third in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes which was won by Richard Kingscote aboard the Tom Dascombe-trained Kachy.
The winner was following up on his impressive performance at Chester when he exhibited an eye-catching turn of foot to deny King Of Rocks, ridden by Frankie Dettori for top trainer Richard Hannon.
