Novus returned to winning form with a determined performance in the Foundation Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.
Trained by Gary and Josh Moore, the filly edged out George Boughey’s 2-1 favourite, Botanical, to secure a narrow victory by a short head in the Listed event—her first win of the 2024 season.
Ridden by Rhys Clutterbuck, the 11-2 shot thrived in the soft ground on the Sussex Downs, overcoming a slow start to showcase her fighting spirit. She may now head to Newmarket to defend her title in the Pride Stakes, which she won in 2023.
"She’s a very good and tough filly, and she got the ground she needed today," Gary Moore commented. "It might not be as soft as some are saying, but she still managed to win after spotting them a few lengths at the start. She hasn’t had the ideal ground this season, and I may have pushed her a bit too hard at times. But she is very talented. She’ll either go to France or return to the Group Three at Newmarket, where she won last year, depending on the ground conditions. Newmarket seems to be her next target."
In a historic moment for owners Wathnan Racing, Hamad Al Jehani and Faleh Bughenaim celebrated their first UK victory together with Solar Aclaim in the six-furlong Heineken Handicap.
The duo has previously partnered to secure a Derby win in Qatar, but this marked their first British winner as a team. "It was a tremendous result for us today," said Richard Brown of Wathnan. "Solar Aclaim becomes the first Qatar-trained and Qatar-ridden thoroughbred winner in the UK. Firsts are rare in our sport, and this is a momentous occasion during Hamad’s first year of training. He’s done an incredible job, and it’s a huge milestone for Wathnan. All credit goes to Hamad and Faleh."
The 16-1 outsider also provided Bughenaim with his first victory from just a handful of rides since joining Al Jehani’s Newmarket base. Brown added, "Faleh is a champion jockey in Qatar and rode the Qatar Derby winner for Wathnan, Jeff Koons, who is now trained by Hamad. He’s been here riding out and is a real talent; I thought he gave Solar Aclaim a fantastic ride."