G1 Juddmonte International Upset – Frankel Quinella

Tara Madgwick - Thursday August 24

The Group I Juddmonte International (1m2½ f) at York overnight saw outstanding three year-old Siyouni colt Paddington chasing a fifth Group I win, but he could not quite overcome the might of two older star gallopers by Frankel.

John and Thady Gosden sent out seasoned G1 performers Mostahdaf and Nashwa with the five year-old stallion making it back to back G1 wins lining up for the first time since his victory at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Ridden again by Frankie Dettori, Mostahdaf set the pace and kept it going to the line to win by a length over the four year-old mare Nashwa with Paddington a gallant third a neck away in a thrilling finish.

 

Advertisement

“Mostahdaf is a proper horse and he's won that in a proper time. He won from the back at Ascot and from the front here and he's getting better with age. He handles good to soft but his ideal is summer racing ground. I wouldn't take him to the Arc if it's going to be soft ground and the Irish Champion might be a possibility,” said John Gosden.

Frankie Dettori might be retiring at the end of the year, but is in hot form.

“There was only one way of beating Paddington and that was by racing in front of him. We went a nice, even tempo and it was a case of come and catch me. The key was trying to get the fractions right. Thankfully after 36 years I’ve learned how to do it," Dettori said.

“I still had two lengths’ rope two furlongs out, and at that point I expected Paddington to be on my quarters. I knew then he’d do well to catch me.”

 

 

Paddington was brave in defeat and Aidan O’Brien felt his last effort to win the Sussex on a bog track may have taken a toll on the three year-old.

“Paddington ran a great race but he had a tough race the last day and maybe it was a race too much for him. Maybe I pulled the elastic band too long,” he said after the race.

“He had a tough race at Goodwood on soft ground, he had to fight twice and he was a little bit down on himself today. Maybe I should have waited and gone to Leopardstown, give him a little more time to recover.

“He is only a baby three-year-old. Ryan felt he was just a little bit flat but he still ran a good race. We were happy for him to come here, that's why he was here, but you don't really know until the speedometer goes to red. Frankie went even and strong all the way and Ryan said he didn't travel with his usual fluency. He definitely won't go to the Irish Champion.”

 

A homebred for Shadwell, Mostahdaf has 10 wins and two placings from 16 starts with this victory his second at the elite level.

Mostahdaf is a half-brother to dual Group I winner Nazeef from stakes-winning Dubawi mare Handassa, a half-sister to Group winners Desert Stone and Euginio.

The Frankel x Dubawi nick is building some impressive stats with 28 winners from 33 runners (84.8%  winner to runner) and eight stakes-winners, four of them Group I winners with 25% SW to runner!!

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.