Enbihaar retained her Lillie Langtry Stakes crown at Glorious Goodwood in a renewal of the fillies and mares’ Group 2 over 1m 6f which cut up.
Only three went to post, but John Gosden became the most successful trainer in the race’s short history. Enbihaar travelled strongly, tracking Irish raider Snow before joining her up front approaching three out.
Jockey Jim Crowley then pushed her along and she led before coming clear with the furlong marker in sight. As Enbihaar kept on well for a 3 1/2 lengths success over Cabaletta.
She clearly took a big step forward from her reappearance in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket. The market suggested that was expected of Enbihaar, though, as bookmakers returned her odds-on at 1/2.
Last year’s runner-up, Manuela De Vega, was a non-runner. However, Enbihaar was five lengths too good for her 12 months ago. The Irish St Leger, for which she holds an early closing entry, may now come under consideration.
Unlike the English equivalent at Doncaster, the race in the Emerald Isle no longer holds Classic status. It has been open to older horses since 1983.
Summerghand goes three places better in Stewards’ Cup
The big betting race of Glorious Goodwood, though, is the Stewards’ Cup and Summerghand – fourth in 2019 – avenged his agonising Wokingham defeat at Royal Ascot.
Trained by David O’Meara, the six-year-old has been very reliable for big sprint handicaps like this. Summerghand just got up this time to score by a head from Kimifive.
As you would expect from an end-to-end 6f dash, the first 15 home in the Stewards’ Cup were separated by a little over four lengths. Fine margins are the difference between victory, defeat and being nowhere in a race like this.
Three-year-olds had done well in recent renewals, winning three of the last six. The best of the younger horses was Mark Johnston’s Meraas in sixth, who held a five-day entry in the King George Qatar Stakes won once again by Battaash.
Headlines go to Summerghand on the final day of Glorious Goodwood, though, as another northern stable stole away this valuable prize. Despite the aborted plan to let some members attend this card, there is still plenty to remember.
Look beyond the empty stands and deserted betting ring, and Glorious Goodwood 2024 was the year that history was made. The repeat and consecutive successes of Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup and sprint contemporary Battaash saw records tumble.