Scottish‑bred speedster American Affair bounced back in spectacular fashion to capture the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, delivering a much‑needed victory for trainer Jim Goldie’s operation. The horse, who had previously triumphed in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, missed the balance of the 2025 campaign after sustaining an injury that forced him off the track. After a promising second‑place finish behind Night Raider in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May, which suggested he still possessed a good deal of his former class, American Affair’s form had been a mixed bag. He faded to the back of the field when he attempted to defend his Ascot title, and a subsequent run in a Listed race at York ended in disappointment.
Consequently, he entered the Group Two contest at Goodwood as a 12‑to‑1 outsider. The race unfolded with American Affair positioned close to the pace, running along the rail that bordered the stands. When the field turned into the home straight, the horse, under the expert hands of regular jockey Paul Mulrennan, began to accelerate.
He surged forward in the final furlongs, overtaking Rumstar and Time For Sandals on the inside of the track, while Australian‑trained Asfoora produced a career‑best effort to finish fourth. Goldie’s senior partner remained at the stable in Musselburgh, unable to travel to Goodwood, but his son George relayed a heartfelt statement on his behalf: “My dad is at Musselburgh, we couldn’t both be here, but I think he’ll be sorry he missed this. My daughter rides him every day; he’s a gentle, talented horse.
We always believed he could return to this level. The injury at the end of last year disrupted things, but we’ve been rebuilding him patiently.” George continued, explaining the preparation that led to the Goodwood win: “We saw a flash of his old form at Haydock three runs ago, but Ascot was a disaster – he pulled too hard and never found his rhythm.
At York he ran well despite a poor draw, so we came to Goodwood very hopeful. He’s finally settled into a smooth rhythm and finished strongly. Today’s conditions suited him better, and we’re thrilled with the result.” Looking ahead, Goldie outlined a tentative campaign for the spring and summer: “The next target is the Nunthorpe, then perhaps a trip to the Curragh, or we might stretch him out to six furlongs for the Haydock Sprint Cup. We haven’t entered him in the Abbaye yet, but the Flying Five at the Curragh after the Nunthorpe looks more realistic.” Sky Sports Racing’s commentary highlighted the significance of the victory for the small‑scale operation.
Veteran jockey Paul Mulrennan, who has been in the weighing‑room for decades, praised the horse’s performance: “He did everything right today. Touch wood, he’ll keep improving. We’re looking forward to the Nunthorpe, and maybe an American campaign would be nice.
I’m probably in the latter part of my career, but I still feel strong. It’s a competitive sport and I only had one ride this week, so we made it count.” Mulrennan also reflected on his own history with the race: “I’ve won this race twice before – first on Moviesta, with my wife Adele in the car.
I feel we should have won it twice more – Easton Angel was unlucky, and Moviesta missed out another year. 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 a personal touch to the story: “He’s had a couple of setbacks, but we always believed 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 thinking we might send him to eventing if he wasn’t fast enough for racing.
He was broken in for eventing because we weren’t sure about his size or speed, but he always had the talent for the track. He could always have a second career in the sport if needed.” The article then shifted focus to another racing narrative: Karl Burke’s plans for his colt Shayem after a hard‑fought victory over the favourite Talk Of New York in the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes.
Shayem, a recent winner of the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket, positioned himself behind the pacemaker Catullus and seized the lead inside the final half‑furlong. Guided by jockey Clifford Lee, he held off Talk Of New York by half a length.
Burke explained his tactics: “We didn’t have to lead, but we knew Billy (Loughnane, riding Catullus) would set a solid gallop, and Cliff was the only jockey who could keep tabs on the leader. Last year people said Shayem preferred soft ground, but he proved otherwise this season.
He handled the undulating Newmarket track well, and his fractions were spot‑on. Abdulrazaq Mohamdi, the owner, will be delighted – he’s a home‑bred from Dubai and a great supporter of ours.” Looking beyond the UK, Burke hinted at future overseas opportunities: “There’s a nice race at Kentucky Downs in September and another at Colonial Downs. They aren’t Grade One events, but they are valuable, and if we don’t go there we could return for the Celebration Mile.” Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York, after a disappointing defeat in the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes, will take time to reassess his next steps.
Appleby reflected on the race dynamics: “At the top of the hill I thought they’d have to work hard to get past the leader because he’s no mug and likes the track. Stretching to the mile was always going to be the undoing of Catullus – stop the clock a furlong out and we were comfortable winners. William said the front two stole a good march on him; they’re sensible horses.
We knew Catullus wouldn’t stay the mile, but Will said ‘I was only just getting rolling there the last furlong.’" He added, "I’m not using the track as an excuse; the winner was sensible and improving, got a nice lead from us and used it, and we finished the race strongly. Perhaps we need to step up in trip, but he also needs to settle a bit more – that first furlong he wants to be aggressive, but that wasn’t the main cause of the loss. The pace was on and they didn’t come back at the end of the day." Overall, the Goodwood meeting delivered a dramatic resurgence for American Affair, reaffirming his status as a top‑class sprinter and giving the Goldie family a memorable triumph after a season hampered by injury. The win also sets the stage for an ambitious summer campaign, with the Nunthorpe and possibly international targets on the horizon, while other connections continue to plot their own paths through the ever‑competitive world of flat racing.