Shalaa shines in Richmond Stakes

Shalaa proved there was no fluke about his July Stakes success when defying a penalty to win the Richmond Stakes in stylish fashion.

John Gosden‘s juvenile was an unfancied 14/1 shot when taking the July Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the month and he carried a 3lbs penalty for that Group 2 win.

However, the favourite made light work of the burden to make it back-to-back victories at Group 2 level by beating Tasleet by two-and-three-quarters of a length.

Frankie Dettori, who had overlooked Shalaa at Newmarket, was always travelling the best in the front rank and the colt quickened away smartly when asked for an effort at the furlong pole.

Tasleet gave forlorn chase in second, while Steady Pace, who was just a length behind Shalaa when runner-up in the July Stakes, was third.

Simple Verse took the step out of handicap company in her stride when staying on well to win the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Stakes over a mile-and-three-quarters.

Dettori had set the pace on board Criteria, but she was swamped entering the final three furlongs as the likes of Lustrous, Kaldera and Jordan Princess launched challenges.

But Harry Bentley found a gap to come through on Simple Verse and Ralph Beckett’s filly kept on gamely to beat Hidden Gold by a length-and-a-half.

Richard Hughes claimed his first winner at his final Glorious Goodwood meeting when Gibeon held the late thrust of Keble in the opening mile-and-a-quarter handicap for three-year-olds.

Gibeon was always in a prominent position behind leader Resonant and was one of the last to be asked for an effort by Hughes, who retires at the end of the meeting.

Gosden’s horse Keble, ridden by Dettori, came with a strong challenge down the centre of the track, but Gibeon made the most of getting first run to hold on by a neck.

Andrea Atzeni completed a double later on the card when partnering Roger Varian’s short-priced favourite Notary to a narrow success in the juvenile Fillies’ Maiden and then winning the seven-furlong Nursery on Mick Channon’s Jaadu.

James Doyle made it a winner on each day of Glorious Goodwood this year when taking the closing Tatler Stakes over five furlongs on Mark Johnston’s Indescribable.