Goodwood, England: Long-serving Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour was narrowly denied a second success on the final day’s racing at Glorious Goodwood as Minding, the world’s joint highest rated filly, survived a big scare in the featured £600,000 Group 1 Nassau Stakes.

Bin Surour, who saddled Best Solution to win the EBF Stallions Handicap on Ladies Day, was gutted to see Move Up finish third to the winner, Dal Harraild, in a fiercely contested Qatar handicap, a mile and a half contest that has been won by some high-class individuals in the past.

Ridden by in-form jockey James Doyle, also looking for more success at the popular summer festival following a quartet of wins, Move Up led briefly inside the final two furlongs before he hung left under increasing pressure and lost his chance in the final stride.

The race was won by the much-fancied Dal Harraild who was squeezed through a gap approaching the final 100 metres to deny the Frankie Dettori-ridden Shraaoh by a shorthead, with Move Up a head back on the photo.

“It was always going to be a close race with so many well-matched horses,” said Bin Surour. “In close finishes like these anything can happen or go one way or the other.

“Move It ran a big race and I’m very pleased. He’s a nice horse by Dubawi who has run well at all the major tracks including Newmarket and Ascot. There are no plans but we’ll see how he comes out of the race and take it from there. He’s a nice horse for the future but we have to give him time.”

William Haggas, who trained the winner, was philosophical and said: “I did say to Pat, the important thing is don’t panic — and we were panicking!

Lucky day

“I will be thrilled if he gets as far as Dartmouth (last year’s winner and the subsequent winner of three Group races) but we’ll see. He could be a Melrose horse.”

Cosgrave added: “I think the ground played against him today. It’s nice ground, but a little loose on top and he was spinning around a little on it. I was a bit unlucky at Ascot last time, and perhaps we got a bit lucky today, but I think he’s a good horse. I was hopeful we’d get there if a gap came and James Doyle was good to me. When that gap came, he put his head down for me. Quick ground and a nice galloping track should suit him.”

Haggas would also win the Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes with Lockheed, who was providing Ryan Moore with a ninth victory of the week to ensure he would go home with the Champion’s Jockey trophy.

Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby celebrated his first winner of this week’s Goodwood Festival when Final Reckoning landed the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Nursery late on Friday.

The Godolphin two-year-old was given an outstanding ride by Godolphin’s New Zealand-born and Australian-based jockey James McDonald who was registering his third victory of the meeting. “It’s nice to get a winner on the board,” said Appleby. “I’ve been pleased with the way the two-year-olds have been running this week. I’ve just hit the bar a few times. James (McDonald — jockey) was pleased with him and said he’s progressing nicely.

“He’s got a Gimcrack entry (at York) but I don’t think we’ll be flying as high as that just yet. He’s a handy little horse to have in the yard — he’s got some natural pace and we’ll have a bit of fun with him.”

Talking about Blue Point, who finished second behind Mehmas in the Group 2 Qatar Richmond Stakes on Wednesday, Appleby said: “I thought the two-year-olds were my best chances this week. I thought Blue Point ran well and I’d be happy to take on the winner (Mehmas) again any time. He’ll get a mile no problem but I’m happy to go to the National Stakes (at the Curragh) with him next and hopefully he’ll run well.”