Ryan Moore declared Scandinavia an ‘unbelievable stayer’ after the Ascot Gold Cup winner continued his inexorable march towards flat racing greatness with a decisive victory in a dramatic Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Justify, game winner of the Group 1 prize 12 months ago, was expected to face stiff competition defending his crown with Ascot runner-up Trawlerman again in opposition.
However, a re-enactment of the Royal meeting’s titanic tussle failed to materialise as Scandinavia powered eight and a half lengths clear of the front-running Trawlerman, himself intermittently hampered by the riderless Amiloc who lost rider Hector Crouch exiting the stalls.
The Goodwood stewards deemed that Amiloc was a runner and, while Moore felt his ongoing presence had little impact on the race, Trawlerman’s rider William Buick felt the incident affected him valuable 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,’ he said.
Referring to the loose horse who crossed the line in front of Scandinavia, Moore quipped: ‘He was just a bit disappointed he didn’t get by him!’
Ryan Moore has declared Scandinavia Scandinavia an ‘unbelievable stayer’ after success in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup
‘Scandinavia is an unbelievable stayer. I couldn’t say he is better than Kyprios as he had a nearly perfect race record once he went over a staying trip but so has this lad now.
‘When we ran in the Gold Cup it was his (Scandinavia’s) first time over two and a half miles and, having been beaten by Trawlerman in the past, I didn’t want to eyeball him too early.
‘I ended up doing that after all at Ascot, but he had enough class to overcome it.’
HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes winner Lake Forest could be set for a busy week as he is also an intended runner in today’s Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.
The well-backed 10/11 favourite collared pacesetter and defending champion Witness Stand inside the final furlong and had enough in reserve under Cieren Fallon to see off a late thrust from Rogue Diplomat to land the Group 2 by a neck.
Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant to trainer William, said: ‘The owners are up for it (running again), and we have plenty of time to decide.
‘He has got nothing until York and does not have to do any travelling. He is pretty laid back, so unless something happens overnight, I would imagine that is the plan. If he is okay, why not?’
