Qatar Goodwood Festival: Ken Pitterson's paddock notes and analysis

The highlight on the first day of the meeting was the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup in which Tom Marquand gave his fellow jockeys a lesson in how to ride from the front aboard Quickthorn!

He poached an early lead on the far side and he was over ten lengths clear of his rivals in the early stages of the race. As he swung for home, he stepped on the accelerator and pinched a couple of valuable lengths. When he reached the two-furlong pole, the pack tried to close, but their pursuit was in vain. It will be interesting to see whether he will be able to get such an easy lead when he goes to York next for the Lonsdale Cup.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Emily Dickinson came from out of the pack to take second. Coltrane looked in fantastic order, but was unable to get to the front and raced in second. However, he was too far behind after the first couple of furlongs and could never close the gap.

The horse I will take out of the race is Eldar Eldarov. This four-year-old by Dubawi looked in much better shape and looked a lot happier at this trip. A return to York where he ran well on his seasonal debut could see him take a further step forward.

Courage Mon Ami did not look great paddock side and he didn’t look happy on the course, or the ground, from a long way out.

Frankie Dettori enjoyed success earlier on the card aboard Kinross in the World Pool Lennox Stakes. The consistent six-year-old looked the part and even though Isaac Shelby was trying to close on him, Ralph Beckett’s charge had a superior turn of foot in the closing stages. He comes into his own at around this time of the season.

Three-year-old Isaac Shelby recorded one of his best runs to date. He attacked for home first and even when he was passed by Kinross, he refused to give in and kept on all the way to the line. Hopefully he will be able to win another race before the season is out. Marbaan ran an honest race in third. I think, on this evidence, seven furlongs is clearly his trip.

The big two-year-old race of the day, the Nicholson Gin Vintage Stakes, went to the Richard Hannon-trained Haatem. This consistent juvenile had the best form going into the race and showed a good attitude to come out on top. In doing so, he paid a big compliment to City Of Troy who he finished runner-up to in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. Hannon has hinted that he may be targeted at Group One company towards the end of the season.

Iberian took a big step forward to fill the runner-up spot and considering this was only his second start, there is clearly more to come. Other two-year-olds worth a mention are Mountain Bear and Golden Mind.

We were all excited to see the mighty Paddington in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. Having seen this colt on his two previous outings, he now looks bigger and stronger which indicates he is still improving. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has indicated that he may contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the end of the season, which would be a totally different challenge compared to what he has faced so far.

Four-year-old gelding Facteur Cheval looked as if he was going to make a serious challenge at one point, but soon came under pressure and was easily brushed aside.

Inspiral looked well and didn’t get warm in the parade ring. Frankie Dettori tried to catch Paddington asleep at the three-furlong pole, but he simply waved goodbye to her on his way to a fourth Group One success this term.

Kevin Stott enjoyed Group Three success with Magical Sunset. This daughter of Kodiac didn’t take the eye paddock side, but she showed a fair amount of guts to hold the runner-up Breege towards the line.

Breege was the fittest horse on show and I thought when she came with her challenge, that she was going to prevail. However, she hung to her left well inside the final furlong and had nothing left near the line. Dream Of Love is not the biggest but ran with credit and I thought Juliet Sierra showed a fair bit more compared to her previous runs.

The Group Three Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs for the juveniles had a competitive look to it. Even though he failed to come out on top, I was taken by the way Baheer travelled through the race. He was last off the bridle and I think this colt will be worth noting on a sound surface.

The winner, Big Evs showed that his Royal Ascot win was no fluke by backing the success up in this event. He displayed battling qualities when challenged inside the final furlong. His next stop is York where he could be supplemented for the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Purosangue put a poor run behind him last time out to make the winner pull out all the stops in the final furlong. A flat five furlongs clearly suits. Kylian looked in great shape, but the draw and soft ground seemed to blunt his speed. He could be an interesting contender if he takes up his Gimcrack engagement at York.

I was taken by the winner of the Markel Richmond Stakes, Vandeek. This Breeze-Up purchase by Havana Grey is far from the finished article and even though he ran out a clear-cut winner, I am not sure he was totally in love with the ground. I think you will see a better performance when he encounters a faster surface.

Ballymount Boy looks a nice type going forward and even though he was slightly slow away, I was impressed by the way he came though the field to finish an excellent second. Toca Madera looked the part, but I just wonder if he could do with a break now having had a busy campaign.

The John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes saw Desert Hero cement himself as a contender for the final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster. His turn of foot was decisive having been short of room with two furlongs to go. The last horse to the Gordon-St Leger double was Conduit in 2008. Chesspiece ran an honourable in second. He lacks a change of gear, but the St Leger trip will definitely play to his strengths.

Canberra Legend is starting to look the part and the way he ran here suggests that he is finally getting his act together. The disappointment in the race was Espionage. This colt by Galileo was the pick of the field, but he got very hot on the way to the start and something had clearly upset him, so I would put a line through this performance.

The third Group One of the meeting, the Qatar Nassau Stakes went to Al Husn. This daughter of Dubawi has made steady progress throughout her career and capped it with a top-level success. Ideally placed throughout, Jim Crowley struck for her home at the right moment and Al Husn displayed great courage to come out on top. Above The Curve bounced back to her best, making the winner dig deep close home.

Nashwa got warm in the paddock, which may have caused her to not put her best foot forward. I just thought she was not well positioned given the way the race unfolded. Blue Rose Cen was the stand-out paddock side, but her inexperienced jockey was caught out by the way the race unfolded. I am not sure, even with a clear run, whether she would have won.

All eyes were on Nostrum in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes after his commanding victory at Newmarket. He looked the part in the paddock and everything seemed to be going to plan until his petrol gauge ran empty approaching the winning post. I would put this disappointing run down to the soft ground. Epictetus took his form to another level by capturing this Group Three event. The key to this success is that he stays further and clearly handles soft ground. He should be in his element come the autumn.

Highfield Princess came back to form with a vengeance in the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes over five furlongs. Quickly into stride, Jason Hart had matters under control and she stretched clear to win very closely. The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes will be next to defend her title. White Lavender took a step forward to run a career-best in second.

Racing was abandoned after four races on the final day due to concerns about the state of the going on the round course.

The heavy ground contenders faced make those first four contests difficult to analyse, with a lot of horses running below-par due to not handling the give underfoot, so I have concentrated on the first four days at this year's Qatar Goodwood Festival.