All eyes are on Ouqba after stunning victory

AFTER helping trainer Barry Hills to become leading trainer at Royal Ascot with a scintillating performance in the Jersey Stakes, Ouqba is set to tackle older opposition for the first time in the £155,000 Group Two Betfair Cup, highlight of the first day of Glorious Goodwood, Tuesday.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jul 2009, 14:59 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:21 BST

The three-year-old colt will remain at seven furlongs in this 3.30pm race, having produced a stunning turn of foot over the same trip at the Royal Meeting, coming from last to first to defeat Deposer by half a length.

He also triumphed over seven furlongs on his seasonal debut at Newmarket in mid-April, comfortably landing the Listed European Free Handicap, before fading over a mile at the same course the following month in the Group One 2000 Guineas, for which he had been supplemented.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Charlie Hills, assistant to his father Barry, revealed: "Ouqba is definitely on target for the Betfair Cup and the race has been the plan since he won the Jersey Stakes. We have been very pleased with him since Ascot and he seems to have done very well physically.

"He was entered in the BGC Sussex Stakes as well, but he won't run against Ghanaati. He won't have to carry a penalty in the Betfair Cup and the seven-furlong trip obviously suits him, although he may get further in time.

"If you watch the European Free Handicap, he travelled really well and showed a good turn of foot. At Ascot, I think that they went quicker and he was outpaced early on '“ it was just the way the race was run."

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette July 22

Related topics:Glorious Goodwood