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First Goodwood winner of the week for Middleham trainer.
Mark Johnston broke his duck for the week when Qaader relished the step up in trip to take out the Unibet '15 To Go' Kincsem Handicap at Goodwood.
The Kingsley House trainer watched the William Buick-ridden Qaader completely dominate the mile-and-a-quarter contest, coming home in isolation four lengths and a short head clear of Alfaadhel and Aerion Power.
The Night Of Thunder colt had disappointed on his previous start at Newmarket, but judging from the way he dominated at the business end, he has now found a comfort zone that his trainer can exploit further.
Johnston – who revealed the serious suspensory injury suffered by Sir Ron Priestley in the Goodwood Cup has brought to an end the talented stayer's career – said of Qaader: "His form had been mixed and there were concerns about the ground and the trip, and a combination of the two.
"We would have liked the ground to be faster, but he's handled it well, and he got the trip well."
Reflecting on the first half of Goodwood week, Johnston added: "It's been very frustrating so far, and we knew our fate over the weekend when there was so much rain about.
"We are devastated about Sir Ron Priestley who first suffered a suspensory injury in 2019. This one has damaged the other branch of the suspensory which is a lot more serious."
Aswan's plucky triumph under James Doyle in the Goodwood Racecourse Patrons Nursery revived memories of good horses Jellaby, Wethnan and Ahoonora.
Owned Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa inherited the colours from his 80-year-old uncle Shaikh Isa Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, with the dream of having a winner at Goodwood where Ahoonora landed the Stewards' Cup in 1978.
Trainers Simon and Ed Crisford were beaming after the 13-2 shot got home by half a length and a short head from Blue Collar Lad and Bastogne in a blanket finish.
Simon Crisford said: "We were worried about the ground and happy it dried out. It was a great ride from James who had the colt in the perfect position throughout.
"It's great for Shaikh Duaij that he has acquired colours synonymous with top horses from back in the seventies, including Ahoonora who landed the Stewards' Cup here and went on the be a Group-winning sprinter."
Wilderness Girl dominated the market for the Tatler EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes and was equally authoritative in the race itself, the 7-4 favourite scoring in convincing fashion from Brazilian Beach and Silverdale in the hands of William Buick.
Her trainer Andrew Balding said: "I'm really pleased. She ran promisingly on her first start at Newmarket and is a nice filly to go on with. We weren't worried about the ground."
Buick then took the concluding race on the card, the World Pool Handicap, aboard Roger Teal's Whenthedealinsdone.
Starting at 8-1, the gelding ran prominently and prevailed by a length and half over the five-furlong trip.