JM Jungle strikes in Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes for the Quinns at Goodwood

Tipped at 33/1 by our tipster Ben Linfoot in his 'Verdict' column, JM Jungle pulled out more on the far side when challenged by She's Quality inside the final furlong.

Hart looked to have saved more for the final thrust after travelling well on the speed in the far-side group and that was the case as he won by a neck.

She's Quality was second with Time For Sandals third.

It was a first go at Group level for the son of Bungle Inthejungle after he graduated from handicaps and then a Listed third at York last time.

He loves speed tracks like Epsom, Goodwood and York and he's now 16/1 from 33s for the Nunthorpe at the latter track later this month on the Knavesmire.

Sean Quinn said: “I was looking at the winners of this over the last ten years and Battaash took up almost half of them and then there was the likes of Highfield Princess so there were some really good horses winning it.

“Sometimes certain races in the sprint division can be winnable and this looked one. When the rain came yesterday it looked as though it might inconvenience some of them whereas this horse always shows up.

“I think he probably loves really fast ground. If you look at the Ebor Meeting last year it was really quick ground, but he is versatile as he has put up a career best there.

“That was easier watching (with Highfield Princess) as she never looked like getting beat. I was willing for the line to come in the last furlong, and it did, but he toughed it out as when the second came to him he went again.

“These horses are hard to come by. For him to turn up on a day like this is massive. We certainly didn’t feel he would run badly as he is a horse that always turns up and always gives his all.

“If you don’t put your hat in the ring you have no chance so we thought we would give it a go. I was hopeful he could make the jump up in grade. He looks better this year in terms of that he is much stronger.

“I was watching them in the parade ring beforehand and they were typical sprinters in that they were highly strung and got quite warm, wearing red hoods etc, but he was going around like an old pro and I thought you will run your race today however good you are.

“Jason said the race he would love to ride him in early in the season is the Nunthorpe because of how fast they go and how much he likes York.

“It looks the natural next step as he is a Group Two winner now so you want to be going up from there. We put him in the Abbaye this week and that is a similar race.

“If you get a good draw up against the rail, and you have seen how much speed he has got in that van early doors, then that would suit him.”

'I maybe went a bit mad!'

Hart said: “I thought the run at York last time felt like a really good run. I thought the ground would suit us more than a lot of the others in the race.

“The Australian filly the ground was always going to be a question mark while Big Mojo hadn’t run on this sort of ground. The ground brought the race together a bit more.

“I walked the track before racing and came to the conclusion that either rail was the place to be and not the middle. I was drawn one and kept it simple.

“He has good form at York and we will go back there for the Nunthorpe with a bit of luck. Time and time again they (John and Sean Quinn) prepare horses for the big festivals.

“I maybe went a bit mad after the line, but when you have got Highfield Princess and then you have not got her it is hard to find the next one. You have to enjoy these things as they don’t happen all the time.”

G1 place the dream

Paul Crowe, of MPS Racing Ltd, said: “This day in 1981 my mother passed away. I know it was a long time ago, but it is still prudent to the day.

“It is just one of things and you never know if she was looking down from above. I’m not a big believer in this, that and the other, and we all get on with life, but you just never know if she was looking down.

“He always runs his race. In the early days when we had him we didn’t know whether to run him over six furlongs then John and Sean said let’s just bring him back to five furlongs and let’s just go as fast as we can.

“I spoke to John and Sean and said shall we go for the Epsom Dash this year. He went there as a three year old, and he probably didn’t handle the ground too much, but I said he is a bit older and John said ‘let’s go’.

“The faster the better for me and that is why we popped him in the Abbaye the day before yesterday, and the Nunthorpe. We are just going to roll the dice, especially now.

“The lads I’m involved with are phenomenal. They never moan, win loose, or draw. They are just great lads from Bolton. They have thrown their money in and it is an absolute credit to them.

“He had won here before on soft ground. I was thinking we would probably need to find ten pounds, which is probably what he has shown, but we know he is improving. Jason got off him at Epsom and said he is faster and better than he has ever felt.

“Them Heritage Handicaps, off a big weight something is probably going to nick you, so you have to step up. We are here and we have done it.

“I would love to get placed in a Group One. That would be my lifetime ambition so we will see.”

Quality line-up for York

Jack Davison, trainer of runner-up She's Quality, said: “That is four seconds this year. I feel it will all come good in the Nunthorpe. Thirty seven millimetres of rain probably didn’t help, but I’m very proud of her. She has shown she is by far the best sprinter in Ireland. It is a pleasure to have her and bring her over here and compete against the best the UK have to offer.

“She is only four and she is improving. Ideally I like my horses to be ridden with a bit of cover and she came from slightly off the pace.

"She is learning all that now and that is another step in the right direction. She can lay up with the fastest horses in the world and she can pick up off an equally fast pace. We are now looking forward to the Nunthorpe.”

Eustace said: “Today, more than anything, was to see how competitive she could be under those conditions under a penalty, back to five furlongs on a sharp track, and she certainly looked at home.

"Over five furlongs you need everything to go right. She just couldn’t quite get herself into the gap she needed to I think, but she had another go at them, which is pretty unusual. I was very happy.

"My gut feeling watching that was to go to Haydock Park (for the Sprint Cup) as she looks more at home over six furlongs. We will let the dust settle and see.”

Timeform - David Cleary reaction

Another pattern sprint, another new winner.

It was the relatively unconsidered JM Jungle, having his first run above listed level, that came out on top in the Group 2 King George at Goodwood, producing another career-best.

The consistent She's Quality took second for the fourth time in four starts in Group 2/3 this year, with the Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals a creditable third under a penalty.

JM Jungle had shown his effectiveness over a downhill five previously, winning a handicap at the Goodwood Festival meeting last July and the 'Dash' at Epsom on Derby day, and he plainly relished the conditions here.

Close up, travelling well, he drifted left (hampering the third) under pressure, but responded well to see off the late challenge of She's Quality.

The form looks nothing out of the ordinary for the grade.

The easy-to-back Asfoora again failed to run to the pick of her Australian form, and neither the King Charles III runner-up Frost At Dawn nor last year's winner Big Mojo seemed at their best on ground that might well have been on the easy side for them.

Nearly all of those named could well take their chance in the Nunthorpe at York. York is another track where JM Jungle has a good record, but that race looks wide open at this stage, though the Ballydoyle two-year-old True Love is obviously a fascinating entry.

More from Sporting Life

• Free bets
• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.