James Doyle made the right call out of three possible mounts when Wathnan Racing capped a spectacular Glorious Goodwood meeting with a win in the Coral Stewards' Cup aboard Evening Saigon. The victory was a crowning achievement for the owners, who have long set their sights on this particular race, but perhaps even more significant was the fact that it marked a second major handicap win for Qatari‑born trainer Hamad Al Jehani during the same week. Al Jehani had already celebrated a big success earlier in the meeting when his horse Archivist captured the Golden Mile, a race that Doyle missed out on by choosing a different mount.
This time, however, the whole stable could share in the glory as Evening Saigon crossed the line first. The betting market had favored higher‑numbered runners on Thursday, yet the race unfolded in favour of the 10‑runner Evening Saigon, who edged out Stratusnine by half a length. Jamie Spencer, riding Mitbaahy, made a strong late run from the rear and finished a head and a short head behind the winner, while Completely Random secured fourth place. "It has been an incredible week for us," Doyle said after the race.
"Last year we were left with just one win and we felt a lot of frustration, so the message in the stable was that we needed to improve. Everyone – including me – has been working hard to make that happen." He went on to explain the tactical work the team had done in the lead‑up to the race.
"We analysed different race plans, looked at track position and how the pace would develop. The guys back at the office, Hamad and his staff, have done an outstanding job with this horse. He's not the easiest horse to manage – he tried to pull away in the early strides – but we got the perfect set‑up.
I was able to settle behind Dark Thirty, draft his run and then make my move before the final two furlongs." Doyle also praised a rival he had faced earlier in the day. "I knew the second horse well – I rode him to victory at York not long ago – and he proved to be a quality opponent, so it made the finish all the more exciting." Al Jehani echoed the jockey's enthusiasm.
"I am thrilled for Evening Saigon and for the entire team. The horse ran a superb race at Royal Ascot, and keeping him in the box for the Stewards' Cup proved to be the right call. This race is a key fixture of the season, and James gave the horse a brilliant ride." He added that competing with the sport's elite trainers is a constant challenge, but one the team embraces. "We are building something special here with strong support from our management.
Year after year we aim to improve, and we hope Wathnan will become a regular presence in the winner's enclosure." Wathnan's racing advisor Richard Brown highlighted the difficulty of Doyle's choice and the broader significance of the win. "James had a tough decision, but he stuck with this lad in the end. Hamad has now won two of the toughest handicaps of the year, and when those results come together it showcases what Wathnan Racing stands for." Brown also praised Al Jehani's record.
"Since he started training, his statistics compare with the very best in the country. He is a phenomenal horseman, a former top rider himself, and even has a background in show‑jumping. His modesty and skill have helped create a strong, cohesive team, and this victory is huge for everyone involved." The meeting also produced other memorable moments.
JP McManus’s Goodie Two Shoes added to Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne‑McMonagle’s impressive Goodwood campaign by winning the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. Sent off at 8/1, the seven‑year‑old filly had to overcome a late challenge from Santorini Star, but she surged forward in the final 100 yards and clinched the win by a nose. Goodie Two Shoes, a former Melbourne Cup runner‑up, now has a strong incentive to return to Australia after her Group Two triumph. Her jockey praised her development.
"She’s a lovely filly and keeps improving. She handled the quick ground beautifully and gave me a perfect split through the field. I was convinced she would finish strongly, and when I saw her head down at the line, I knew we’d got it." He also reflected on the significance of the silks he was wearing. "It’s an honour to ride for JP McManus.
This win gives us a great platform for the rest of the season, and the Melbourne Cup will undoubtedly be a target for the connections." Sir Anthony McCoy, speaking on behalf of McManus, added his thoughts on the finish. "I didn’t think she’d won at first, but Jason Weaver confirmed she was exactly on the line.
Dylan Browne‑McMonagle gave her a superb ride, staying on the inside and finding a bit of luck. When you have a jockey of his calibre paired with a trainer like Joseph O’Brien, things tend to fall into place." McCoy also noted Goodie Two Shoes’ versatility. "She was second in the Melbourne Cup and could be competitive in a race like the Galway Plate if she were to run there.
Victories like this one are encouraging, and we hope she can make a return to Australia for the Cup later in the year." Overall, the Glorious Goodwood meeting showcased the depth of talent across jockeys, trainers and owners, delivering thrilling finishes and confirming the importance of strategic choices, teamwork and relentless preparation in top‑level horse racing. The Stewards' Cup win for Evening Saigon and the Lillie Langtry Stakes triumph for Goodie Two Shoes will be remembered as highlights of a weekend that delivered both drama and celebration for the sport’s fans worldwide.