James Doyle made the right call out of three options when his stable, Wathnan Racing, capped an extraordinary Glorious Goodwood meeting with a victory in the Coral Stewards' Cup aboard Evening Saigon. The win was a significant accolade for the owners, who have long set their sights on this particular race, but perhaps the more noteworthy story was that it marked a second major handicap triumph this week for Qatari‑born trainer Hamad Al Jehani. Al Jehani had already celebrated a high‑profile success earlier in the meeting, taking the Golden Mile with Archivist after Doyle mistakenly chose a different mount.
This time, however, the whole team could share in the glory as Evening Saigon crossed the line first. The race itself defied the conventional wisdom that higher‑rated horses would dominate. The eventual winner, drawn in stall 10, surged past the early leader Stratusnine, who had been sent off in stall five. Jamie Spencer, riding Mitbaahy, produced a strong finish from the rear but was edged out by a head and a short head, leaving him in second and third place respectively.
The fourth‑placed horse was Completely Random. "It has been a brilliant week for us," Doyle said after the race. "Last year was frustrating – we only managed a single win – so the whole stable was determined to improve.
We spent a lot of time this week analysing tactics, track position and other variables. Everyone back at the office, Hamad, and the entire team have done an incredible job with this horse." He went on to describe the challenges of handling Evening Saigon: "He's not the easiest horse to settle. At the start he tried to get away from me, but once we found a rhythm he settled nicely. The set‑up was perfect – Dark Thirty was right in front of us, allowing us to draft behind him.
I didn't feel the need to push too hard for a Stewards' Cup, so I pulled him out before the final two furlongs and let him finish strongly." Doyle also praised a rival: "I recognized the second horse – I rode him to victory at York a few weeks ago – and he's a very respectable runner, so it made for an exciting duel right to the line." Al Jehani added his own perspective: "I'm thrilled for Evening Saigon and for everyone involved. He ran well at Royal Ascot, and keeping him in the Stewards' Cup was the right call. This race is a key part of the season, and James gave the horse an outstanding ride." He continued, "Competing against the world's top trainers is never easy, but we are making steady progress thanks to strong support from management. Our aim is to keep improving year after year and see Wathnan Racing more often in the winner's enclosure." Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown highlighted the strategic decisions behind the victory: "James had a tough choice but he was decisive in sticking with Evening Saigon.
Hamad has now won two of the toughest handicaps of the year, and our collaborative approach is paying off. When results like this come together, it reinforces what Wathnan stands for." Brown also praised Al Jehani's record: "Since he began training, Hamad's statistics compare favourably with the best trainers in the country. He is a phenomenal horseman, a modest former rider who even competed at a high level in showjumping.
His ability to build a cohesive team has been crucial to our success." The coverage of Goodwood continued with another highlight: Goodie Two Shoes added to Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne‑McMonagle's impressive week by winning the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. The JP McManus‑owned mare started at 8/1 odds, needing to overcome a strong challenge from Santorini Star.
With 100 yards to go she found a narrow opening, stretched her neck and clinched the win by a nose. Goodie Two Shoes, a seven‑year‑old who placed second in the Melbourne Cup in November, now looks likely to return to Australia after this Group Two triumph. Her jockey praised her development: "She’s a wonderful filly, improving with every run since she returned this year.
She handled the quick ground beautifully and I was confident she would stay close to the leaders." He admitted the finish was a photo‑finish: "I thought I had lost, but when I looked at the camera she tucked her head down at exactly the right moment. It was a razor‑thin margin, but we got it right." The rider also expressed gratitude for the silks: "These are very special colours to wear. A huge thank you to JP for giving me the mount – she’ll have a great campaign for the rest of the season." Looking ahead, the jockey identified the Melbourne Cup as the ultimate target: "I’m sure the Melbourne Cup is the main goal. The owners and trainers will discuss it, but it’s the obvious aim for a horse of her calibre." Sir Anthony McCoy, speaking for McManus, echoed the sentiment: "I didn’t think she’d won at first, but Jason Weaver confirmed it was right on the line.
She got a superb ride – Dylan Browne‑McMonagle is a mechanically perfect rider, similar to Ryan Moore, with a little extra spark that makes a difference." He added, "She was second in the Melbourne Cup, and I think she’d be well‑handicapped for the Galway Plate if she ran there off 123. Winning races like this is wonderful, and I hope she can make another run at the Melbourne Cup." Overall, Goodwood delivered a weekend of memorable performances, tactical brilliance and a clear signal that both Wathnan Racing and the McManus operation are poised for further success in the coming season.
The racing community can look forward to more thrilling contests as these connections continue to target the sport’s most prestigious events.