Scandinavia sees off Illinois for Ballydoyle one-two in Goodwood Cup
Illinois attempted to make all but Scandinavia drew upsides over a furlong out and the two had it between them, with the concession of 14lb ultimately proving too much for Moore's mount, who went down by three-quarters of a length. Sweet William stayed on for a never-nearer third.
A Ballydoyle 1-2
Scandinavia wins the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup 🏆#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/3MRejjTRCi
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 29, 2025
O'Brien immediately signalled the St Leger at Doncaster as the big aim for his winner.
'Wayne gave him a lovely ride – in the race at Ascot (Queen's Vase) he was trapped six wide all the way and then at Newmarket Ryan said he felt like a very good horse,' he said.
'Illinois went out there in front and looked to have the race won, but then the other horse got him.
'We went to the Gold Cup (with Illinois) without a preparation and I know we haven't seen the best of him.
'Scandinavia is a typical Justify, he just won't lie down, he puts his head down and won't be beaten.
'Lambourn didn't go to the King George as we had one eye on York for him. It's all out in the open and this horse is ready made for the Leger, which is where he will go.
'He (Scandinavia) travelled very well through the race, he has a great mind. Lambourn can go for the Voltigeur and then maybe for the Arc.'
O'Brien was also pleased with the performance of the runner-up, feeling his best is still to come.
He added: 'I thought Ryan did everything perfect today on Illinois. He was out there and had the race won, and then the other horse just came and got him.
'I don't think we've seen the best of Illinois yet because I think we went to the Gold Cup a year too early and his preparation wasn't right to win a Gold Cup.
'He ran an unbelievable race, and he'll have the rest of the season, but often when that happens it can stop the progression you would really want to come. I really think we haven't seen the best of him yet.'
Alan King's hugely popular Trueshan, winner of the race in 2021, was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle at halfway, with news sadly emerging his injury had proved to be a fatal one.
Of the placed horses, Josh Gosden said of Sweet William: 'He ran a very brave race and we couldn't be more pleased with him. He'll go to York and Doncaster now.
'A galloping track suits him, maybe a fiddly one like this doesn't. Aidan's runners controlled the early easy fractions. When they do that they are very hard to catch.'
Sunway was for fourth for locally-based David Menuisier, who said: 'He was beaten fair and square, but he stays well and did his best. There was no excuse. He is just behind the best at a mile and a half to two miles. As long as Aidan turns up we will be settling for the places. I am thinking he could go for the Prix Kergorlay and maybe the Cadran, try to meet the French rather than the British.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Reuters
White Sox activate Chase Meidroth, designate Jacob Amaya ahead of Royals series
August 15 - The Chicago White Sox reinstated infielder Chase Meidroth from the 10-day injured list and designated infielder Jacob Amaya for assignment ahead of Friday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals. Meidroth, 24, had been sidelined since Aug. 7, retroactive to Aug. 4, with a right thumb contusion sustained when he was hit by a pitch from Philadelphia's Taijuan Walker on July 30. The rookie is batting .252 with a .330 on-base percentage and .319 slugging percentage in 84 games this season, with 12 doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, 36 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Amaya, 26, has appeared in 37 games for Chicago across two stints this season, hitting .106 with eight RBIs and seven runs scored. He has played primarily in the infield. The White Sox and Royals open a three-game set in Kansas City on Friday night. --Field Level Media
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Reuters
Jack Suwinski's late homer lifts Pirates past Cubs
August 15 - Jack Suwinski played the hero in his hometown on Friday as his ninth-inning home run lifted the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates center fielder, who entered the day batting .118, took a 1-1 delivery with one out from Daniel Palencia (1-3) the other way into the left-center bleachers. Dennis Santana (4-4) pitched one-hit ball over 1-1/3 innings of relief to get the win. Batterymate Henry Davis also helped as the catcher threw out Ian Happ trying to steal second in the eight and Pete Crow-Armstrong in the ninth. The caught stealing spoiled a 3-for-3 performance for Crow-Armstrong, who also scored a run and drove in another. Crow-Armstrong had second base stolen safely in the ninth but was tagged out when he slid past the bag. Two teams struggling recently at the plate saw those woes continue Friday as the teams managed six hits each in the daytime series opener. Rookie Braxton Ashcraft went a career-high five innings for the Pirates and allowed a run on three hits while striking out four. Cubs starter Colin Rea, meanwhile, also only allowed a run on three hits over five, with the journeyman striking out five and walking a pair. Two-out hitting played a role in both teams' first runs. Andrew McCutchen's fourth-inning double gave the Pirates the initial lead with Nick Gonzales scoring. However, the Cubs squared it up in their half of the inning when a Crow-Armstrong single brought home Seiya Suzuki. Jared Triolo, another sub-.200 hitter for the Pirates, went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the seventh inning after Isiah Kiner-Falefa's double. Kiner-Falefa's extra-base hit to the gap in left-center landed on the warning track just beyond the grasp of Crow-Armstrong, who appeared to stumble just before he lunged. The Cubs, though, got that run right back after the seventh-inning stretch. Crow-Armstrong led off the frame getting hit by a pitch from Evan Sisk. Nico Horner and Dansby Swanson singled to load the bases with none out, and Matt Shaw tied the game on a sacrifice fly to center. Isaac Mattson, though, escaped the jam and kept the game tied by inducing a pair of infield popouts. -Field Level Media
Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Former champion jockey Tommy Murphy dies in hospital aged 88 as Aidan O'Brien mourns loss of ‘incredible man'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER champion jockey Tommy Murphy has died in hospital aged 88 - as Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss of an 'incredible man'. The talented Flat rider - who also won at Cheltenham Festival - was assistant to the legendary Vincent O'Brien. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Former Irish champion jockey Tommy Murphy died in hospital aged 88 2 Aidan O'Brien has paid tribute to Tommy Murphy, calling him an 'incredible man' who taught him so much Credit: PA His passing comes as British racing mourns the loss of legendary trainer Bill Turner after injuries he suffered in a 'freak accident'. Dual Classic-winning rider Murphy, who took top honours in the jockey standings in 1978, died at a hospital in Cashel, Ireland, on Wednesday. Ballydoyle boss O'Brien, who took over from his predecessor but is no relation, retained Murphy's services at the famed yard. He said he was an invaluable asset at the beginning of his career and proved 'irreplaceable' over the years. O'Brien, regarded by many as the greatest Flat trainer ever, told the Racing Post: "Tommy was an unbelievable horseman, jockey and person. "He was an incredible help to us when we came to Ballydoyle in 1994. "He taught everybody here so much about so many different things. "Even when he retired, he came in all the time to give everyone advice and guidance. He was one of those irreplaceable men. "He was a great rider, too, just an incredible and special man. Andrew [Tommy's son and head lad at Ballydoyle] is in charge of the Giant's Causeway yard, where all our main horses are kept. "We'll miss Tommy terribly. "He lived here for a long time, until he went into hospital. "We had a lot of great memories going racing with Tommy. "We had unbelievable days with him and always had dinner on the way home after racing. "(My children) Joseph, Sarah, Ana and Donnacha were always with him from the time they were babies and grew up learning from him about horses and life." Murphy, who was born in Wexford, rode his first winner in 19654 and moved to England soon after. There, he became a jockey for a number of trainers, including four years with the Duke of Norfolk. He hit the big time in 1970 when he won the Galway Hurdle and backed it up again two years later. His two Classics came in 1977 when he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Lady Capulet and Irish St Leger with Transworld. Then in 1978 he won what is now the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival aboard Noble Life. His final winner came in 1981 and soon after that he became permanent fixture at Ballydoyle. Photos showed him patrolling the Ballydoyle gallops, keeping a keen eye on the army of top thoroughbreds pounding the track. Punters were quick to pay their respects, with one writing on X: "Tommy Murphy, former Classic-winning champion jockey, Ballydoyle linchpin and ever-present great of Irish racing has sadly passed. God rest him."
