Bow Echo once again demonstrated his spectacular turn of foot, clinching a dramatic win in the latest edition of the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. The unbeaten colt owned by George Boughey, who previously captured the 2000 Guineas, had already proven his mettle by bouncing back from a tough run to take a determined victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Entering Goodwood as the 10-11 favourite, he was poised to emulate the legendary Frankel, who last completed a Newmarket‑Ascot‑Goodwood treble in 2011. The race itself was far from a straightforward affair for those backing the odds‑on favorite.
Bow Echo settled in the middle of a sizable field, appearing to have a lot of work ahead as the pace intensified. Yet, as the final half‑furlong unfolded, the colt shifted gears with astonishing speed, pulling ahead to edge out his old adversary Gstaad by half a length. The finish was a testament to his explosive acceleration and the skill of his regular jockey, Billy. After the race, Boughey praised the performance, saying, "He has an explosive turn of foot; the race turned out messier than we imagined because of the gallop they set.
Huge credit to Billy for staying ice‑cold. He's an extraordinary horseman and rider, and Billy getting the most out of the horse is phenomenal. Fundamentally, he's an animal.
To endure another rough race, relax through it and then find the line as strongly as he did – I’m at a loss for words. He's as fast as a motorbike, stays the mile, but his turn of foot is exceptional. Billy has believed in this horse for a long time, and so have I." Boughey reflected on the challenges at Ascot, noting that the horse needed confidence to recover from a demanding Royal Ascot effort. "We always thought this was the race for him.
After a hard run at Ascot we had to bring him back, and he showed how good he truly is. A Sussex Stakes with twelve runners was bound to be messy, but we executed our plan perfectly. There were a few gaps that closed, Billy had to sit tight and then come round – it was brilliant." Matching Frankel's treble across Newmarket, Ascot and Goodwood is a rare feat that fills Boughey with immense pride.
He added, "I realize how special his achievements are this year, and I know I may never be in this position again. Many trainers have had better horses and never reached this point. It’s heartbreaking that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid isn’t here to see it; this is the culmination of over thirty years of work.
I can’t put into words what this horse means to me – he’s a warrior as well as a speed machine." With his home‑soil triumph secured, the connections are already looking abroad. Boughey outlined possible future targets: "We could head to France for the Prix Jacques le Marois or the Prix du Moulin.
Ultimately we’d love to finish the season in the Breeders' Cup Mile. I think a strong pace on an American bend would suit him perfectly." Trainer Loughnane also commented on the race dynamics, saying, "They made the race difficult for him, but I always wanted to follow Ryan Moore on Gstaad – that was my plan. I knew the pace would be strong given the race setup. I was boxed in between Ryan and Christophe Soumillon on Puerto Rico, had to wait for a clear run, and once I got it, Bow Echo proved his class." In other Goodwood action, five‑year‑old Flora Of Bermuda, trained by Andrew Balding, broke new ground by winning the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes over seven furlongs.
Previously a specialist at six furlongs, the filly had already placed at Group One level and captured the Group Three Summer Stakes at York. Entering as the 5‑2 favourite, she settled in sixth place before making her move at the furlong pole, then staying on strongly to win by a neck from Sayidah Dariyan, with Radiant Beauty third. Balding explained the decision to stretch her to seven furlongs: "We’d been considering the longer distance for a while, and this race was the obvious test.
She’s been consistently high‑class throughout her career and is a fantastic filly. Physically she’s in great shape this year, although she can be impatient in the stalls – she’ll go in, but won’t stand there for more than thirty seconds. Ascot was a disaster for her, she fluffed the start, but otherwise she’s three‑for‑three this season.
Traveling abroad is tricky because of the stalls, so we’ll probably aim for the City of York Stakes or the Haydock Sprint Cup. A Group One win is the ultimate goal, and if everything aligns she’ll get there. She’s amazingly versatile – she won the Alice Keppel on heavy ground and now this on fast ground." Meanwhile, Wild Blossom, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Karl Burke, captured the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies' Conditions Stakes.
After a modest 10th place in the Queen Mary – a performance that belied the narrow four‑and‑a‑half length margin – she entered the race as the 5‑4 favourite under James Doyle and delivered a convincing one‑and‑a‑half length victory over Andrew Balding’s Fast Track. Burke praised her preparation: "She worked well with a strong older filly last week and gave a very nice run. It’s a slight concern when she performs well on slow ground first and then the draw at Ascot completely scuppered her, but the plan since Ascot has been to target Group five‑furlong races.
She’s a very quick filly, and we won’t rule out six furlongs – we’ll see what James says. Potential targets include the Flying Childers at Doncaster and similar contests." In the opening Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap, William Haggas’ colt Infraad held on after a stewards’ inquiry confirmed his win.
Tom Marquand rode the 2‑1 favourite to a narrow head victory over Andrew Balding’s Hatteen, both lightly‑raced three‑year‑olds. Maureen Haggas, William’s assistant, reflected on the colt’s future: "You never know what they’ll do these days, but Tom and Oisin were in the same room and talked a lot, which may have delayed the result.
He needed every inch of the mile and a half, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays longer as he matures. He’s a work in progress, going the right way, and I hope he continues to improve." Overall, Goodwood delivered a weekend of thrilling performances, with Bow Echo’s late surge cementing his status as one of the season’s premier milers, while other emerging talents like Flora Of Bermuda, Wild Blossom and Infraad hinted at future successes on both domestic and international stages.