Hott Shott and Spell Master shared the honours

Hott Shott and Spell Master shared the honours in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes on the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, as the judge was unable to separate the two.

In a competitive seven-furlong race featuring 11 runners, Ralph Beckett’s 2-1 favourite Consolidation and Andrew Balding’s 4-1 chance Spell Master were expected to contest the finish. However, Richard Hughes-trained Hott Shott, a 5-1 shot, was making strong progress from third place under Rossa Ryan.

Spell Master, guided by Oisin Murphy, managed to edge ahead of Consolidation in their prolonged battle. Yet, Hott Shott’s finishing kick meant he joined Spell Master at the line, resulting in a dead heat after a photo finish.

Hughes found the race nerve-wracking, unsure if Hott Shott could win, but he crossed the line ahead. Originally preparing Hott Shott for the Chesham, Hughes felt he debuted a month too early at Kempton. After giving him time to develop, he now views him as one of his best two-year-olds.

Balding was relieved as Spell Master secured a win, noting he was improving with each race. Meanwhile, Witness Stand, a 40-1 outsider, won the Whispering Angel Handicap for Clover and Shoemark, showcasing talent after a string of near-misses.

Clover mentioned Witness Stand had shown ability despite previous struggles and was pleased to see him perform well. Finally, Paradias won the Coral We’re Here For It Handicap at 8-1, with Rossa Ryan securing a double. Ryan praised Paradias’s strong finish after a slow start, noting the horse's potential in previous races.