Scottish-bred speedster American Affair rebounded impressively to capture the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, reaffirming his status as a top‑class performer. The horse, a favourite of trainer Jim Goldie, had previously triumphed in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, but his campaign was abruptly halted by an injury that kept him off the track for the remainder of the 2025 season. After a promising second‑place finish to the returning Night Raider in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May, it was clear that American Affair still possessed a solid level of ability. However, his subsequent performances were mixed: he finished last when defending his Ascot title and then failed to make an impact in a Listed race at York.
Those results left him as a 12‑to‑1 outsider for his next Group Two assignment at Goodwood. In the race, American Affair settled close to the pace among the horses racing nearest the stands rail.
When the field turned into the home straight, the experienced jockey Paul Mulrennan urged the colt forward. He responded with a powerful finishing burst, overtaking Rumstar and Time For Sandals down the centre of the track. Australian‑trained Asfoora produced her best effort of the day to hold third place, while American Affair secured a decisive win.
Goldie's senior partner remained at Musselburgh, but his son George offered a heartfelt statement about the colt's return: "My dad is at Musselburgh, we couldn't both be here, but I think he'll be sorry to have missed out! My daughter rides him every day; he's a lovely‑natured horse and obviously very talented. We always believed he could get back to this level. The injury at the end of last year disrupted his progress, but we have been rebuilding him carefully.
He showed a glimmer of his former self at Haydock, and although Ascot was a disaster – he pulled too hard – his run at York, despite a poor draw, was encouraging. We came to Goodwood hopeful, and the horse has finally found his rhythm again." Looking ahead, George outlined the next steps in the colt's campaign: "The plan is to target the Nunthorpe next, then perhaps 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; the Flying Five at the Curragh after the Nunthorpe looks more likely." Mulrennan, a stalwart of the weighing‑room, praised the horse's performance: "He did everything right today, so fingers crossed he stays healthy. We'll enjoy the Nunthorpe and maybe even an American trip later in the season.
At this stage I feel I have more years behind me than ahead, but I'm still going strong. The competition is fierce, and I only had one ride this week, but we made it count. My wife Adele was with me; the last time I won this race was on Moviesta, with Adele riding.
I've won this race twice before and feel I should have won it twice more – Easton Angel and Moviesta were unlucky. Today we got it right." Wendy McGrandles of Barraston Racing, co‑owner of American Affair, reflected on the colt's journey: "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 thought we might send him to eventing if he didn't have the speed for racing.
He was initially broken in for eventing because we weren't sure about his size or speed. He could always transition to a second career if needed!" 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. Talk Of New York, fresh from a third‑place finish behind Bow Echo and Gstaad in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, entered the race as the 2‑5 market favourite. While his stablemate Catullus set a strong pace, Talk Of New York struggled to find his rhythm when asked to close.
Shayem, the recent Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes winner at Newmarket, positioned himself behind Catullus before taking the lead in the final half‑furlong and holding off Talk Of New York by half a length under jockey Clifford Lee. Burke explained the tactics: "We didn't have to lead, but we knew Billy (Loughnane on Catullus) would give a good gallop, and Cliff was the only one who could keep tabs on the leader. Last year people thought Shayem preferred soft ground, but he proved otherwise this year. He handled the undulations at Newmarket perfectly, 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. There's a nice race at Kentucky Downs in September and another at Colonial Downs.
They aren't Grade Ones, but they're valuable, and if we don't go there we could return for the Celebration Mile." Appleby, whose Talk Of New York suffered the defeat, said he will let the dust settle before deciding the horse's next move. He noted: "The front two stole a good march on him, and they're sensible horses.
Catullus wasn't going to stay the mile out, but Will said he was only just getting rolling in the last furlong. I'm not using the track as an excuse; the winner was sensible, improved, and did everything right. Perhaps we need to step up in trip, but he also needs to learn to settle a bit more. The first furlong he wants to be aggressive, but that wasn't the main issue.
The pace was strong and they didn't come back at the end of the day."