By Sean Cronin
Shadwell's homebred Listed Cathedral Stakes victrix and G3 Summer Stakes sixth Raqiya (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Rihaam {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) flashed past the post a head adrift of Jabaara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in Wednesday's G3 Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood, but was awarded the seven-furlong distaffers' heat in the stewards' room after that rival was deemed to have caused interference in the closing stages.
The Owen Burrows trainee, sent postward as a 7-1 chance, found a smooth rhythm along the fence in a handy third through halfway. Responding to pressure inside the final quarter-mile, she was forced to angle off the rail as Jabaara cut across her path with 100 yards remaining and lunged late to finish a head shy of that subsequently demoted rival.
“Roger [Varian] is one of my best mates and it is never nice to win one like that,” said Burrows. “Jim [Crowley] felt we would have won with a clear run and, watching it a few times on the big screen, we probably felt we would have been an unlucky loser, but that is the way it goes here sometimes. It was there for all to see and it would have been a bit gutting not to get it. The most positive thing, even if we didn't get it, is that we learned seven furlongs on fast ground is her bag. That was a big positive to take out of it.”
Crowley's enquiry evidence included, “I've had to wait until the cutaway and my filly is picking up. We've got the rail to run against and we've got plenty of clear room to go. The horse in front has just shifted across her and I've had to switch. I think she's lost a bit of momentum, I've had to check, then obviously she has stayed on again. I feel that, if that hadn't happened, she probably would have won. I stopped for about three strides and there's no question we have had to stop. With a clear run and, without losing her momentum, she would have won.”
Varian commented, “I have only seen the race once and I don't want to comment on the interference or the stewards' decision. They have had the luxury of watching it many more times and from more angles than we have and they have come to that decision and we have to congratulate the winner. It's a shame. I think our filly was on top for most of the race, and maybe she just threw it away. I don't know what else to say. She ran well.”
🚨First past the post but hold your bets! 🚨
Jabaara wins the Group 2 Oak Tree Stakes but she caused interference and Raqiya backers might yet get paid out.@Qatar_Racing | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/bAxseaUVgZ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Raqiya is the fourth of six foals and one of three scorers out of an unraced half-sister to five black-type performers headed by stakes-winning G3 Prestige Stakes second Mudaaraah (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Listed Star Stakes victrix Sudoor (GB) (Fantastic Light). Her dam Rihaam (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is also kin to the dam of G3 Priory Belle Stakes victrix and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Falmouth Stakes placegetter A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}). Sudoor. in turn, produced G3 Prix Noailles victor Raseed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and her descendants include dual G1 Jebel Hatta hero Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The March-foaled bay's second dam Wissal (Woodman) is a full-sister to Bahhare (Woodman) and kin to fellow sire Bahri (Riverman). Raqiya is a half-sister to Listed European Free Handicap third Ribhi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire) and a weanling colt by Camelot (GB).
Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
VISIT QATAR OAK TREE STAKES-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:24.81, g/f.
1–RAQIYA (IRE), 125, f, 3, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Rihaam (Ire), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Wissal, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Wasnah, by Nijinsky II
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £21,500. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-0, $94,489. *1/2 to Ribhi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jabaara (Ire), 125, f, 3, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Baheeja (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £56,710.
3–Ziggy's Dream (Ire), 125, f, 3, Inns Of Court (Ire)–Shifting (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£24,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Middleham Park Racing LIX & Mizon/HDR; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Alice Haynes. £10,760.
Margins: (HD, HF, SHD). Odds: 7.00, 2.50, 50.00.
Also Ran: Vetiver (GB), Kathmandu (Ire), Stop The Cavalry (GB), Breege (GB), Sea Of Thieves (GB), Pretty Crystal (Ire). Scratched: Armira (Ger), Fair Angellica (GB).
*Jabaara was demoted from 1st.
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