150-1 shot Qirat wins the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes

Juddmonte's Qirat caused a momentous 150-1 upset when holding off Rosallion in the Group 1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood (30th July).

Taken from www.racingpost.com, 30th July 2025, by Andrew Dietz:

In front of a stunned crowd, Qirat took up the running under Richard Kingscote from the Aidan O'Brien-trained outsider Serengeti approaching the furlong pole and that is where he stayed at the line. Fellow Juddmonte runner Field Of Gold finished fourth, one place behind Henri Matisse, as Rosallion got closest to shortening the gap to the ultimate of shock winners as Qirat became the biggest-priced winner of a Group 1 in Britain and Ireland in the modern era.

The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old, who returned at 269-1 on the Betfair exchange, went into the race unbeaten in two starts at Goodwood. Although quick to assume his front-running role, Qirat had the early lead taken off him after Serengeti recovered from a slow start to be hurried up into setting the pace. That order remained in the home straight, where the first signs of some sort of upset appeared with William Buick starting to get to work on Field Of Gold and Rosallion caught the eye mounting his challenge.

However, Qirat had given them all the slip and he held on by a neck under a rider fresh from Group 1 success at Royal Ascot with Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals.

"It's turning into a cracking year," said Kingscote. "Ultimately, we were there as a helping hand to go an even gallop and we were somewhat ignored early then took a lead off Wayne [Lordan on Serengeti].

"This horse likes the track and Ralph said even though we're here to help he can do his best."