Bow Echo once again demonstrated his remarkable acceleration, clinching a thrilling win in the latest edition of the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. George Boughey's unbeaten colt, who previously captured the 2000 Guineas and later rebounded from setbacks to claim a solid victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, entered Goodwood as the 10-11 favourite.
He was aiming to complete a rare hat‑trick that had not been achieved since the legendary Frankel accomplished the feat in 2011. The race was far from a straightforward affair for those backing the odds‑on favorite. Bow Echo found himself settled in the middle of a crowded field, needing to navigate through traffic as the contest unfolded.
Yet, as the finish line approached, the colt shifted into a higher gear in the final half‑furlong, pulling away to finish half a length ahead of his old adversary Gstaad. After the race, Boughey praised his horse’s attributes: "He possesses an explosive turn of foot; the gallop was a bit messier than we expected, but his ability to find a clear run was outstanding.
Huge credit to Billy, who remained ice‑cold throughout. He’s an extraordinary rider, and the way Billy gets the best out of Bow Echo is simply phenomenal." He continued, "Fundamentally, he’s an animal.
To endure a tough race, settle down, and then unleash such power at the line leaves me speechless. He’s as fast as a motorbike, stays the mile, and has a phenomenal burst of speed. Billy has believed in this horse for a long time, and I share that belief." Boughey reflected on the challenges faced at Ascot, noting that the experience gave the team confidence to press on: "We knew what happened at Ascot, but we trusted the horse and went for it again.
This race was always meant for him; after a hard run at Royal Ascot, we needed to bring him back, and he proved his class." He added that the Sussex Stakes, with its twelve runners, was destined to be a messy affair, yet the race unfolded exactly as they had planned. "There were a few gaps that closed, and Billy had to sit tight and then swing round, but it was brilliant." Emulating Frankel’s Newmarket‑Ascot‑Goodwood treble is a rare accomplishment that fills Boughey with immense pride.
He admitted, "I realize how special this year has been for us, and I know I might never find myself in this position again. Many trainers have handled better horses and never achieved this.
It’s heartbreaking that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid isn’t here to witness it; this is the culmination of over thirty years of work." Boughey’s emotional connection to Bow Echo is evident: "I can’t put into words what this horse means to me. He’s a warrior as well as an exceptionally fast runner." Looking ahead, the connections have outlined potential targets.
Boughey said, "Our plan is either to head to France for the Prix Jacques Le Marois or the Prix du Moulin. Ultimately, we’d love to finish the season in the Breeders' Cup Mile. I think a round‑about course in America with a strong pace would suit him perfectly." Trainer Loughnane echoed the sentiment, noting the tactical nature of the race: "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 found myself boxed in between Ryan and Christophe (Soumillon on Puerto Rico) and had to wait for a gap. Once I got it, Bow Echo showed his quality." In other Goodwood action, five‑year‑old Flora Of Bermuda, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Andrew Balding, secured her first seven‑furlong win in the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes.
Previously a specialist over six furlongs, the filly had already contested Group One level and captured the Group Three Summer Stakes at York. Stepping up in distance, she entered the race as the 5‑2 favourite and prevailed by a neck over Sayidah Dariyan, with Radiant Beauty a close third.
Balding explained the decision to stretch her out: "We’d been considering seven furlongs for a while, and this race was a logical test. She’s been consistently high‑class throughout her career and is a fantastic filly. Physically she’s in great shape this year.
She can be a bit impatient in the stalls – she’ll go in fine but won’t stand for more than 30 seconds. Ascot was a disaster for her, she fluffed the start, but otherwise she’s three‑for‑three this season." He added, "She’s versatile – she won the Alice Keppel on heavy ground and now this on fast ground. We may look at the City of York Stakes or the Haydock Sprint Cup abroad, and a Group One win is certainly a target if everything aligns." Another highlight was Wild Blossom’s victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes. Trained by Karl Burke for Wathnan Racing, the filly had previously finished tenth in the Queen Mary, a performance that belied her true ability as she was only four and a half lengths off the winner.
Sent out as the 5‑4 favourite under James Doyle, she delivered a decisive win, beating Andrew Balding’s Fast Track by a length and a half. Burke commented, "She worked well with an older filly last week and showed great improvement. The concern is that she performed so well on slow ground and then handled the fast Ascot surface despite a poor draw. Our plan since Ascot is to target Group five sprint races; she’s a very quick filly.
We won’t rule out six furlongs either – we’ll see what James advises. Future targets could include the Flying Childers at Doncaster or similar contests." In the opening Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap, William Haggas’ colt Infraad secured the win after a stewards’ inquiry confirmed the result. Tom Marquand rode the 2‑1 favourite to a narrow head victory over Andrew Balding’s Hatteen, another lightly‑raced three‑year‑old. Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas reflected on the colt’s development: "You never know what these horses will do these days, but Tom and Oisin were in the same room and they’re great talkers, so the decision took time.
He needed every inch of the mile and a half, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays longer in the future. He’s a work in progress, moving in the right direction, and I hope he continues to improve." Overall, the day at Goodwood showcased a blend of seasoned champions reaffirming their status and emerging talents stepping up to new challenges, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the flat racing season.