The Jim Goldie-trained American Affair reminded everyone of his immense talent when returning to winning ways in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.
The six-year-old burst onto the Group 1 scene with victory in last summer's King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and while unable to add to his tally in four starts since returning from a layoff this term, the flying five furlongs on the Sussex Downs suited him down to the ground.
The 12/1 chance, partnered by regular rider Paul Mulrennan, was drawn in stall nine and ended up making his charge late in the day down by the stands' side rail.
Over on the other side, Asfoora darted for home with a couple of furlongs to travel but her stride began to shorten close home as eventual runner-up Rumstar (6/1) gave chase, with third Time For Sandals (14/1) bidding for glory up the centre of the course.
But as the camera angle straightened at the winning post, it was clear Mulrennan and American Affair had held sway, the Scottish raider gaining Group 2 honours by half a length.
Paddy Power and Sky Bet reacted by clipping the winner to 7/1 (from 20s) for the Nunthorpe at York on August 21.
King George Qatar Stakes result
1. AMERICAN AFFAIR 12/1
2. Rumstar 6/1
3. Time For Sandals
4. Asfoora 14/1
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Post-race reaction
John McGrandles, winning owner/breeder, said: “The thoughts coming into today’s race were we knew that he was good enough, but we just had to hope that everything would fall into place. He has been coming back gradually from that injury.
“It was a good enough spin at Haydock Park, but then it didn’t happen at Royal Ascot. He got a bit boxed in and nothing went right. Even in his last run at York he was drawn on the outside and he had no cover at all, so you could put a line through that.
“You had to remember that he had beaten most of the horses in this race before, so he was good enough at one stage, we just hoped he would come back to that. I think he has proved today he is as good as he has ever been. It was only when he crossed the winning line that we knew it was his.
"We are delighted just to get to these meetings. The win is just a total bonus. He has been a horse of a lifetime. When we won the Portland we thought that was as good as it was going to get. When we bred him originally we set out to breed one as good as his mother, who was a nice handicapper that did well, and that would have done me.
“He is a very genuine horse, but it is testament to the yard how they have got him back. The plan will be to roll on to York now. He loves York as he has won there before, but I don’t think he will be 12/1!”
Rumstar's trainer Jonathan Portman said: “I’m super proud of him. He is getting on a bit now. He looked like the winner, but he just needed that bit of luck. Rob (Hornby) gave him every chance and he rode a mature race on him. The horse has turned up and, although he couldn’t quite win, I’m super proud of him. The finish just caught him out a bit. Rob was patient, and in another stride I think we would have done it. All being well, we will go to the Nunthorpe."
Harry Eustace, trainer of Time For Sandals, said: “That is only her second go over five furlongs this year, and we rode her colder. She drew poorly and the race was away from her at Ascot, but she is fast and she likes running at them, and that is how she got back on track.
“She is in at York and she is in the Flying Five. I suspect the five at the Curragh is about bang on, but she will probably run in both I would think. It has been a bit frustrating for us, but I'm not making too many excuses, the draws, and how the races have set up haven’t helped us much this year, but it set up better for us today."
Asfoora's trainer Henry Dwyer said: “You need so much to right in these five furlongs races as you are only out there for 54 or 55 seconds, and if you don't get the right rub of the green then you struggle.
“It was good to see her out there with the will to win and that she wants to do it, rather than last time when she was a bit lethargic. At the furlong and a half marker she ranged up and hit the front and put a couple of lengths on those around here, and I got a bit excited.
“The bit of her race where she is at her weakest is the last 50 metres and she just didn’t have that horse to take her into the race. She had a nice tow behind Jakajaro, but he was a beaten force at the two furlong marker and she was left out there by herself.
“The three that finished in front of her were a fair way out on the track, and potentially on better ground. I’m incredibly tempted to stick around for the Nunthorpe, but it is not my decision. I will make a call to the owner as at the end of the day it's his money and his horse and he can decide to do what he wants. I won't advise him either way, but after today you would think there is no reason not to. The door is ajar."
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