Scandinavia, the reigning Ascot Gold Cup champion, continued its impressive trajectory in flat racing with a commanding win in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. Jockey Ryan Moore described the horse as an "unbelievable stayer" following the decisive performance.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Justify, who also won the Group 1 prize a year prior, was anticipated to face strong competition, including Trawlerman, the runner-up from the Ascot Gold Cup. However, the expected close contest did not materialize as Scandinavia surged to an eight-and-a-half-length victory.
Trawlerman, ridden by William Buick, finished second but experienced interference from Amiloc, a horse that lost its rider early in the race. While Moore suggested Amiloc's presence had minimal impact on Scandinavia, Buick stated the incident affected Trawlerman's momentum. "It definitely had an effect and it's unfortunate. The winner won well but when you get hampered at that stage of the race it's never ideal," Buick commented.
Moore drew comparisons between Scandinavia and Kyprios, another notable stayer, noting that both horses now possess near-perfect racing records over staying distances. He recalled that Scandinavia's previous win over two and a half miles in the Gold Cup was its first attempt at the distance, and that the horse overcame a tactical challenge against Trawlerman at Ascot.
In another notable race, Lake Forest, winner of the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, is being considered for a swift return in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. The favorite, Lake Forest, overtook the leading horse, Witness Stand, in the final furlong to win the Group 2 race by a neck, with Rogue Diplomat finishing strongly for second. Trainer William Haggas's wife and assistant, Maureen Haggas, indicated that the owners are open to running Lake Forest again, provided the horse remains in good condition and considering the proximity of the next race and minimal travel involved.