Scottish‑bred speedster American Affair rebounded spectacularly to capture the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, reaffirming his status as a top‑class performer for trainer Jim Goldie. The horse, who had previously secured the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, endured a lengthy lay‑off after sustaining an injury that forced him out for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Despite the setback, American Affair hinted at his lingering ability when he finished a close second to the newly emerging Night Raider in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May.
That performance suggested he retained much of his previous class, even though he later faded to the back of the field when attempting to defend his Ascot title and subsequently under‑performed in a listed race at York. Going into the Group Two contest at Goodwood, the gelding was priced at 12‑1, reflecting both the optimism of his connections and the lingering doubts of the betting public. From the start, American Affair settled comfortably among the front‑runners on the rail side of the course. As the race unfolded, he stayed close to the pace, a tactical position that suited his running style.
In the final furlongs, jockey Paul Mulrennan urged him forward, and the pair responded with a powerful late surge. American Affair surged past Rumstar and Time For Sandals on the centre line, clinching the win by a decisive margin. Australian‑trained Asfoora, who had been travelling strongly throughout the race, finished a respectable fourth, delivering her best effort to date.
Goldie's senior partner, who was based at Musselburgh and unable to attend the race, was thrilled by the result. His son, George Goldie, explained the family’s emotions: "My dad stayed at home in Musselburgh, so we both missed the day, but I know he would have been proud to see the horse back in the winner’s circle. My daughter rides him daily; he’s a gentle horse with obvious talent." George went on to describe the horse’s recovery journey.
"We always believed he could return to his previous level. The injury at the end of last year disrupted his progress, but the glimpse of form at Haydock gave us hope. Ascot proved difficult – he pulled too hard and never found his rhythm. At York, despite a poor draw, he ran well, so we arrived at Goodwood with confidence that he was regaining his flow and finishing strongly." Looking ahead, the Goldie camp outlined an ambitious spring campaign.
"Our next target is the Nunthorpe, followed by a possible trip to the Curragh. He could also stretch out to six furlongs for the Haydock Sprint Cup. We haven’t entered him in the Abbaye yet; the Flying Five at the Curragh after the Nunthorpe seems more realistic." Mulrennan, a long‑time stalwart in the weighing‑room, praised the horse’s performance.
"He did everything right today. Touch wood, he’ll continue to improve.
We’re already looking toward the Nunthorpe and perhaps an American campaign later in the season. At my age I’ve got more years behind me than ahead, but I still feel strong.
This week I only had one ride, and we made it count." He also reflected on his own history at Goodwood. "My first win here was on Moviesta, with my wife Adele driving the horse.
I’ve won this race twice, and I feel I should have added two more – Easton Angel and a second Moviesta win were unlucky. It’s been a mix of luck and skill, but today we got it right." Wendy McGrandles of Barraston Racing, co‑owner of American Affair, added perspective on the horse’s background.
"He’s had a couple of setbacks, but we always thought he was as good as he was last year. For small breeders like us, this is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime moment. I remember him as a foal and wondering if he might be better suited to eventing. He was broken in for eventing because we weren’t sure he’d have the size or speed for flat racing.
He still has that option as a second career, which is reassuring." The meeting also featured a notable showdown between Karl Burke’s Shayem and the fast‑finishing favourite Talk Of New York in the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes. After a strong showing at Royal Ascot, Talk Of New York entered the race as the 2‑5 favourite, but a tactical ride by William Buick and a well‑timed pacemaker in Catullus left the race open.
Shayem, who had captured the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket three weeks earlier, positioned himself just behind the pacemaker and seized the lead inside the final half‑furlong. Clifford Lee rode Shayem home, holding off Talk Of New York by half a length. Burke commented, "We didn’t need to lead, but we knew Billy (Loughnane on Catullus) would give us a solid gallop, and Cliff kept a perfect eye on the leader.
Last year he was thought of as a soft‑ground horse, but he’s proved versatile this season. The ground and track didn’t bother him; he handled Newmarket’s undulations with ease." He continued, "Cliff’s timing was spot on.
Abdulrazaq Mohamdi, the owner, will be delighted – it’s a home‑bred from Dubai. There are attractive races at Kentucky Downs and Colonial Downs in September. They aren’t Grade One, but they’re lucrative, and if we skip them we could return for the Celebration Mile." Charlie Appleby, trainer of Talk Of New York, said he would reassess the horse’s next steps after the disappointing defeat.
"The pace was strong, and the front two gave him a good run, but the mile distance may have been the undoing for Catullus. We’ll look at whether a step up in trip is needed, but the horse also needs to settle better early on. Overall, he did everything right and showed improvement, so we’ll keep working on his tactics." Overall, the Goodwood meeting delivered a mix of redemption and intrigue. American Affair’s return to winning ways provided a heartening narrative for the Goldie family and their small‑scale breeding operation, while the Shayem‑Talk Of New York clash highlighted the depth of talent across the sprint division and set the stage for an exciting summer of international racing prospects.