Field Of Gold’s pacemaker Qirat caused a momentous 150-1 upset when holding off Rosallion in the Group 1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
In front of a stunned crowd, Qirat, whose role in the race was to ensure a decent pace for Field Of Gold, took up the running under Richard Kingscote from the Aidan O’Brien-trained outsider Serengeti approaching the furlong pole and that is where he stayed at the line.
Field Of Gold finished a well-beaten fourth, one place behind Henri Matisse, as Rosallion got closest to shortening the gap to the ultimate of shock winners as Qirat became the biggest-priced winner of a Group 1 in Britain.
The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old, who returned at 269-1 on the Betfair Exchange, went into the race unbeaten in two starts at Goodwood.
Although quick to assume his pacemaking role, Qirat had the early lead taken off him after Serengeti recovered from a slow start to be hurried up into setting the pace under Wayne Lordan.
That order remained in the home straight, where the first signs of some sort of upset appeared with William Buick starting to get to work on Field Of Gold.
It became clear that the season’s brightest light Field Of Gold was not going to dazzle again as Rosallion caught the eye mounting his challenge.
However, Qirat had given them all the slip and he held on by a neck under a rider fresh from Group 1 success at Royal Ascot with Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals.
Qirat and Richard Kingscote after winning the Sussex StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker
“It’s turning into a cracking year,” said Kingscote, who is soon to depart to Hong Kong. “Ultimately, we were there as a helping hand to go an even gallop and we were somewhat ignored early then took a lead off Wayne.
“This horse likes the track and Ralph said even though we’re here to help, he can do his best.
“I feel like a villain, but when I saw it wasn’t a grey nose coming towards me I kept going.”
Team Field Of Gold debrief after a shocking Sussex Stakes resultCredit: Edward Whitaker
Field Of Gold was sent off at 1-3 after producing spectacular performances in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, but he proved a huge disappointment on his first run at Goodwood.
Joint-trainer John Gosden said: “He didn’t seem too well balanced on the track and got a little unbalanced coming out of the dip on the bend, but we’re not making excuses. They ignored the pacemaker and paid the price.
“He didn’t seem comfortable as soon as William [Buick] asked him. The engine wasn’t there and he didn’t fire today. He’s having a normal blow and we’ll have a good look.”
How did that happen?
By Keith Melrose, Betting editor
The race-winning move in the Sussex Stakes arguably came from Wayne Lordan on Serengeti.
Lordan and Richard Kingscote on winner Qirat were going a good, but not suicidal gallop in the early furlongs. When Serengeti did the classic pacemaking move, and sacrificed himself starting from the top of the straight, it may well have lulled the riders on the big players into a false sense of security.
Meanwhile, the best place to be according to the sectionals was always pretty much where Kingscote sat. He let Lordan go, thereby conserving just enough energy to capitalise on the contemptuous amount of ground Rosallion, Henri Matisse and Field Of Gold offered to him. In other words, the only horse to make best use of the pacemaker was the other pacemaker.
This race report is being updated and more news will follow shortly.
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