Bow Echo once again demonstrated his spectacular turn of foot as he clinched a dramatic win in the latest edition of the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. The unbeaten colt owned by George Boughey, who previously captured the 2000 Guineas and later delivered a gritty performance in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, entered Goodwood as the 10-11 favourite.
He was aiming to emulate the legendary Frankel, who last completed the Newmarket‑Ascot‑Goodwood treble in 2011. The race was anything but straightforward for those backing the odds‑on favorite.
Bow Echo settled mid‑pack as the field burst into a fast early pace, and for much of the opening stages he appeared to be biding his time. It was only in the final half‑furlong that the colt shifted gears, unleashing a burst of speed that saw him edge past his long‑time rival Gstaad by half a length.
The finish was a textbook illustration of Bow Echo's ability to accelerate sharply when it matters most. After the race, Boughey praised the horse and his team: "He has an explosive turn of foot; the race was a little messier than we expected given the gallop they set.
Huge credit to Billy for staying ice‑cold. He is an extraordinary horseman and rider, and Billy getting the best out of this horse is phenomenal. Fundamentally, what an animal. To have another tough race, settle through it and then hit the line as strongly as he did – I’m at a loss for words.
He’s so quick, like a motorbike. He stays the mile but possesses an exceptional turn of foot. Billy has believed in him for a long time and I have as well." Boughey reflected on the challenges at Ascot earlier in the season: "We knew what happened at Ascot and it was about having the confidence to take stock and try again. I always thought this was the race for him; we had to bring him back from a hard run at Royal Ascot, and he has shown how good he is.
The Sussex Stakes was always going to be messy with twelve runners, but we rode exactly as we planned. There were a few gaps that closed, and Billy had to sit tight and come round, but it was brilliant." Matching Frankel's Newmarket‑Ascot‑Goodwood treble is a rare feat that fills any trainer with overwhelming pride. Boughey admitted the significance of the achievement: "It’s not lost on me what he has accomplished this year, and I realise I may never be in this position again. Many trainers have handled better horses and never reached this point.
It’s terribly sad that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid isn’t here to see it; this is the culmination of more than thirty years of work. I can’t put into words what this horse means to me – he’s a warrior as well as a lightning‑fast runner." Looking ahead, the connections are already plotting Bow Echo's next campaign.
Boughey said: "The plan is either to head to France for the Prix Jacques le Marois or the Prix du Moulin. Ultimately we would love to finish the year in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
I think a round‑about track in America with a strong pace would suit him perfectly." Jockey Loughnane added his perspective on the Sussex Stakes: "They made life difficult for him, but I always wanted to follow Ryan (Moore on Gstaad) – that was my plan. I knew the pace would be strong given the race set‑up. I was boxed in between Ryan and Christophe (Soumillon on Puerto Rico) and had to wait for a chance. Once I got it, Bow Echo proved his quality." The meeting also produced other notable performances.
Five‑year‑old Flora Of Bermuda, trained by Andrew Balding, secured her first seven‑furlong win in the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes, expanding her repertoire beyond the six‑furlong distances where she had previously excelled. The filly, owned by Wathnan Racing, won as the 5‑2 favourite, beating Sayidah Dariyan by a neck with Radiant Beauty third.
Balding explained the decision to stretch her out: "We’ve been considering seven furlongs for a while and this race was an obvious test. She’s consistent at a high level and physically sound. Her only flaw is a lack of patience in the stalls – she’ll go in fine but won’t stand there long.
Ascot was a disaster for her start, but otherwise she’s three from three this year. We’ll target the City of York Stakes or the Haydock Sprint Cup, and a Group One win is still on the agenda." In another highlight, Wild Blossom, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Karl Burke, captured the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies' Conditions Stakes.
After a modest 10th‑place finish in the Queen Mary (a performance that belied the narrow four‑and‑a‑half‑length margin), she turned the tables under James Doyle, winning by a length and a half over Andrew Balding's Fast Track. Burke noted her progress: "She worked well with an older filly last week and showed great improvement. The plan since Ascot is to target Group five‑furlong races; she’s a very quick filly and we won’t rule out six furlongs either. Future targets could include the Flying Childers at Doncaster." The Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap also delivered drama.
William Haggas' colt Infraad, after a stewards' inquiry, retained the win, edging out Andrew Balding's Hatteen by a head. Tom Marquand rode Infraad as the 2‑1 favourite, and Maureen Haggas, William's assistant, commented: "You never know what will happen these days, but I imagine the delay was because Tom and Oisin (Murphy) were in the same room – they’re good talkers and couldn’t stop them.
He needed every inch of the mile and a half and could go further with time. He’s a work in progress, but he’s on the right trajectory and we hope he continues to improve." Overall, Goodwood delivered a rich tapestry of stories: Bow Echo's late‑stage surge cemented his place among the elite, while emerging talents like Flora Of Bermuda and Wild Blossom signaled promising futures.
The connections of each horse are already looking ahead to autumn targets, with French Group One sprints, British middle‑distance contests, and even the Breeders' Cup Mile on the horizon. The Sussex Stakes will be remembered not only for its thrilling finish but also for the way it underscored the depth and versatility of this year’s racing cohort.