2023 Goodwood Cup Result and Replay - Quickthorn makes all to claim surprise win

Frankie Dettori guided Courage Mon Ami to victory in the Ascot Gold Cup last month and it was John and Thady Gosden's gelding who entered the stalls as the short-priced favourite. Coltrane renewed rivalries with the favourite after finishing second at Ascot, along with Eldar Eldarov and Lone Eagle.

Aidan O'Brien was represented by both Emily Dickinson and Broome. Marco Botti threw Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto into the mix, with Quickthorn, Tashkhan, Ocean Wind and Enemy also featuring in a high-class field.

As expected, Tom Marquand allowed the keen-going Quickthorn to bowl out into the lead. Tashkhan sat second early on ahead of Eldar Eldarov, who took a more prominent early position than he did in the Ascot Gold Cup.

Frankie Dettori was keen to find some early cover on Courage Mon Ami. Broome also angled over to the rail after a furlong, with Lone Eagle running keen in the first-time blinkers at the rear of the field.

In a carbon copy of his run in the Lonsdale Cup 12 months ago, Quickthorn stormed into a lengthy early lead. Oisin Murphy pushed Coltrane up into second ahead of Tashkhan, but at the bottom of the hill, the leader was 15 lengths clear. 

Approaching the turn for home, Quickthorn still led by 20 lengths. One by one, the chasing jockeys began to get to work on their mounts, but at the two-furlong pole, it was evident they were chasing in-vein. Despite clearly tiring in the closing stages, Quickthorn kept on to win the Goodwood Cup by six lengths.

Emily Dickinson won the race for second, dipping her head at the right moment to beat Coltrane. Eldar Eldarov ran on well to finish fourth, with Giovellotto completing the top five.