Scottish‑bred speedster American Affair rebounded brilliantly 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 taken the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, was forced out of the remainder of the 2025 campaign after sustaining an injury. Despite the setback, the gelding showed encouraging signs of form when he finished a close second to the newly re‑emerging Night Raider in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May. That run hinted that he still possessed much of his earlier ability, even though he later faded to last place when defending his Ascot title and subsequently ran unplaced in a Listed contest at York.
Those mixed results left him as a 12‑to‑1 outsider for his latest Group Two assignment. In the Goodwood race, American Affair was positioned near the pace among the runners that raced closest to the inside rail. As the field turned into the straight, the veteran jockey Paul Mulrennan guided the horse to a strong finish, overtaking Rumstar and Time For Sandals on the centre of the track. Australian‑bred Asfoora, who had been travelling well all day, produced her best effort to hold a respectable fourth place.
Mulrennan’s ride was smooth and decisive, allowing American Affair to demonstrate the turn of foot that had made him a favourite in previous seasons. Goldie senior, who was based at Musselburgh, could not travel to Goodwood, but his son George offered a heartfelt interview on the winner’s podium. He explained, "My dad is at Musselburgh, we couldn’t both be here, but I’m sure he’s disappointed to have missed this.
My daughter rides him every day; he’s a gentle horse with obvious talent. We always believed he could return to this level, but the injury he suffered late last year disrupted his progress." He went on to describe the careful rebuilding process, noting that the brief glimpse of form at Haydock gave the connections hope, while the Ascot effort was a disappointment because the horse “pulled too hard.” Regarding future plans, George said the next target is the prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes, with the possibility of a run at the Curragh later in the season or even a step up to six furlongs for the Haydock Sprint Cup.
He added that the team has not entered the horse in the Abbaye de Longchamp race; instead, the Flying Five at the Curragh after the Nunthorpe appears more likely. Mulrennan, a stalwart of the weighing‑room, praised the horse’s performance, saying, "He did everything right today. Touch wood, he’ll keep improving.
We’ll enjoy the Nunthorpe next, and perhaps an American trip would be nice." He reflected on his own career, noting that he feels he has more years behind him than ahead, yet he remains competitive. "I only had one ride this week, but we made it count," he said, recalling his previous victories on Moviesta and expressing a desire to add another win to his record. Wendy McGrandles of Barraston Racing, who co‑owns American Affair with the Goldies, highlighted the horse’s journey from a modest foal to a Group‑level competitor. "He had a few setbacks, but we always felt he was as good as he was last year.
For us small breeders it’s a once‑in‑a‑lifetime moment," she said. She recalled initially considering an eventing career for the colt before his speed became evident, noting that the horse could still transition to a second career if needed.
In the same meeting, Karl Burke’s Shayem produced a surprise victory, edging out the fast‑finishing favourite Talk Of New York in the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes. Talk Of New York, a Charlie Appleby trainee, entered the race as the 2‑5 market leader after a strong third‑place finish in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, a pacemaker named Catullus set a brisk early tempo, and while Talk Of New York was keen early on, he struggled to find his rhythm when asked to accelerate in the final stages. Shayem, a recent Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes winner at Newmarket, stayed in the prime position behind Catullus.
In the last half‑furlong he seized the lead and held off Talk Of New York by half a length under jockey Clifford Lee. Burke explained his tactics: "We didn’t need to lead, but we knew Billy (Loughnane on Catullus) would give a solid gallop, and Cliff was the only one who could keep tabs on the leader." He added that Shayem had disproved the notion that he was a soft‑ground specialist, handling the undulating Newmarket surface with ease.
Looking ahead, Burke mentioned potential targets for Shayem in the United States, citing a race at Kentucky Downs in September and another at Colonial Downs. While neither is a Grade One, both are lucrative and could fit the horse’s profile. He also left open the possibility of a return to the UK for the Celebration Mile later in the season.
Appleby, after Talk Of New York’s disappointing run, said he will assess the horse’s next steps once the dust settles. He noted that the race’s pace may have been a factor, and that Talk Of New York may need to settle more efficiently in future trips.
"He’s a good horse, but we might have to think about a different distance or a change in tactics," Appleby said. Overall, Goodwood delivered a thrilling day of sprint racing, with American Affair’s resurgence providing a feel‑good story for the Goldie camp and Shayem’s upset adding an extra layer of intrigue.
The victories set the stage for an exciting summer campaign, with both horses now earmarked for high‑profile targets such as the Nunthorpe, the Curragh sprint races, and potential trans‑Atlantic engagements later in the year.