Qirat Scores Monumental Upset in G1 Pegasus Turf Qualifier

Favored Field of Gold’s Stablemate Wins G1 Sussex at Goodwood
G2 Pegasus F&M Turf Berth Up for Grabs in Thursday’s G1 Nassau
Mandatory 20-Cent Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Juddmonte’s Qirat, supplemented for 70,000 euros to ensure a solid pace for the benefit of heavily favored stablemate Field of Gold, forgot to stop and captured Wednesday $1.5 million Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood, earning a berth in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

Qirat, who was 27th in a field of 30 in his most recent start at Royal Ascot, prevailed by a neck in the mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up under Richard Kingscote on the second day of Great Britain’s Glorious Goodwood Festival. Field of Gold never got untracked and finished a non-threatening fourth.

Qirat, who was rated at 150-1 in England, paid off at odds of 61-1 in the U.S. Although viewed as a rank outsider who was only entered to enhance the chances of multiple-Group 1 winner Field of Gold, Qirat is out of the dam who produced Bluestocking, the filly who captured last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

The Pegasus World Cup Turf, to be contested at 1 1/8 miles on turf, will be a supporting feature to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Gulfstream’s Jan. 24 program, along with the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2).

The Nassau Stakes (G1), whose winner will earn a berth in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, will be featured on Thursday’s Goodwood program. Trainer Aidan O’Brien will make a bid for his sixth victory in the 1 ¼-mile stakes for fillies and mare with Whirl, a heavy favorite in a select field of five. Andrew Balding-trained See The Fire, viewed as the most serious threat to Whirl, will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, a familiar face who has ridden during Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet the past two European off seasons.

Mandatory 20-Cent Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be held Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for six racing days following a July 13 mandatory payout.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $150,000 on a program that marks the return of turf racing following a month break. Friday’s six-race sequence will feature two of the day’s three turf races.

Saturday’s program will be headlined by the $75,000 Bear’s Den, a mile stakes for 3-year-olds on turf. Sunday’s feature, the $70,000 Warrior Pride Handicap, will close out the mandatory Rainbow 6 payout sequence.