Qatar Goodwood Festival Witness Exciting Competitions in Day 4

London, August 01 (QNA) - The Qatar Goodwood Festival will conclude today and the racecourse will host the Gr1 P/A Qatar International Stakes as the fitting finale of the five-day Festival. The coveted title is the target of attention given its standing and the class of the nine runners its 2020 renewal. The event is highlighted by the presence of two champions from Qatar; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani's EBRAZ, the winner of last year's edition and the world's highest-rated Arabian, and HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani's TAYF, the winner of the 2017 edition. The events of the fourth and penultimate day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival continued on Friday with eight races, with the Gr2 King George Qatar Stakes for three-year-olds and older over five furlongs the feature event of the day. The eight-race card included three other black type races; the Gr3 Saint Clair Oak Tree Stakes for three-year-old and older fillies and mares over seven furlongs, the Gr3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for three-year-olds over a mile and the Gr3 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Glorious Stakes for four-year-olds and older over a mile and three furlongs. Outstanding sprinter Battaash won the G2 King George Qatar Stakes for the fourth year in succession. He won the five-furlong contest in a time of 55.62s, a new course record. The previous record was 56.20s, set by Battaash, himself, in this race a year ago. The six-year-old gelding, trained by Charlie Hills, was in front after the first two furlongs and never in any serious danger thereafter. Coming home, under Jim Crowley, he continued to win by two and a quarter lengths to the good of Glass Slippers, who is trained by Kevin Ryan and was ridden by Tom Eaves. Ornate, trained by David Griffiths, was third with Oisin Murphy astride. One Master justified her position as a market leader for the G3 Saint Clare Oak Tree Stakes, getting up on the line to take the honors. Entering the final two furlongs, it was not clear if a gap would appear for the six-year-old Fastnet Rock mare as she raced close to the rail. It was not until well inside the final furlong that she was in the clear to deliver a challenge but when she did, she quickened tremendously to get up on the line and score by a short head for trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand. Valeria Messalina, trained by Jessica Harrington, was the runner-up under Frankie Dettori. Charlie Appleby's trainee Althiqa finished third under William Buick. Tilsit landed the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, run over a mile for three-year-olds for trainer Charlie Hills and jockey Ryan Moore. The winner, a colt by First Defence, began to make progress three furlongs from home. As he entered the final furlong, he hung significantly towards the rail, hampering My Oberon. Tilsit kept on well despite hanging, coming out on top by a length and a half from My Oberon, who is trained by William Haggas and was ridden by Tom Marquand. The Roger Varian-trained Khaloosy finished third with Jim Crowley in the saddle. Trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand enjoyed a double on day four of the Qatar Goodwood Festival as Pablo Escobarr won the G3 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Glorious Stakes. They were on the mark earlier in the afternoon with One Master in the G3 Saint Clair Oak Tree Stakes. Pablo Escobarr was always traveling well and in touch with the leaders. He made a forward move passing the two-furlong marker and was in front entering the final furlong. He took the honors by cozy three-quarters of a length from last year's winner Desert Encounter, who is trained by David Simcock and was ridden by Jim Crowley. The Hughie Morrison-trained Le Don De Vie was third under Oisin Murphy. Prompting, trained by David O'Meara, was the well-supported favorite for the Unibet Golden Mile Handicap and amply justified his position at the head of the market with a comfortable victory. Traveling well, under Harry Bentley, behind the leaders, the four-year-old Bated Breath gelding took the lead entering the final furlong and without being asked any serious questions scored by a length and a half from top-weight Urban Icon, who is trained by Richard Hannon and was ridden by Pat Dobbs. Afaak, trained by Charlie Hills was third under Dane O'Neill. (QNA)