Glorious Goodwood may have been hit by the worst weather in its history this week, but by Friday order was restored. The sun came out; the gale force winds died down and Al Jazi (IRE) under Frankie Dettori defended her Group 3 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Stakes (1400m) crown in style. The race is part of a twinning agreement between Goodwood and the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
Frankie Dettori (Liesl King)
It was the third straight victory for French trainer Francois Rohaut and Goodwood Festival sponsors Al Shaqab, who won also won the race in 2015 with Amy Eria (IRE). By Canford Cliffs (IRE), who will join the Highlands Stud stallion band in 2018, Al Jazi is a 1400m specialist and with Dettori in the saddle the mare started as 9/4 favourite.
Despite a dash for the line Eternally (GB), Tomyris (GB) and even former South African runner Same Jurisdiction (SAF), the result was never in any doubt. With just over 400m left to go Dettori sent Al Jazi into the lead and the mare extended away from her rivals to win by 1.25 lengths with Eternally in second and Tomyris in third, a further head back.
It was the first victory of the week for crowd favourite Dettori and the roar as the popular jockey entered the winner’s circle was deafening. Dettori did not disappoint and despite his recent troubles with a persistent shoulder injury, he flew skywards in style, followed by a happy dance once safely back on the ground.
Harry Herbert, racing manager for Al Shaqab, was equally delighted with the victory: “She’s a specialist at this trip and at this racecourse, coming back to win this for the second year running. It is Frankie’s first win of the week so far. It’s great, the reaction he gets from the racing public is so unique and so special and of course he feeds off that, and those scenes in the unsaddling enclosure is what it is all about. It’s good for Frankie, he’s a superstar. Gregory Benoist would have ridden the filly, but he’s hurt his neck and has been off for a few months.”
Herbert confirmed that Al Jazi would be returning to top level competition, with the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt over 1400m on Arc weekend the most likely target.
By Liesl King
