Nayef Road Leads Home Galileo 1-2 In Gordon Stakes

Nayef Road (3c Galileo - Rose Bonheur, by Danehill Dancer) continued Mark Johnston’s tremendous record at the Goodwood Festival when taking the Group 3 Gordon Stakes.

Thursday saw the colt drop back in trip to a mile and a half following a fine second in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy and a third in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Silvestre De Sousa rode him to chase the leaders, moving upsides over three furlongs out and leading from the two furlong pole. Constantinople (Galileo) loomed on the inside, the pair battling to the line, where Nayef Road prevailed by a neck.

A Classic tilt may now be on the cards for the winner according to Johnston, who said, “The St Leger has to be the target and we'll keep an open mind on that. We think Nayef Road is better over further than today's trip, so while the Voltigeur Stakes is a possibility, he could go straight to the Leger.” Johnston could have more than one runner in the Leger, with fellow Goodwood winner Sir Ron Priestley (Australia) also holding an entry.

Owned by Mohamed Obaida and bred by BV Sangster, Nayef Road is the best performer out of the dual Listed winner Rose Bonheur (Danehill Dancer). She, in turn, is the highest-rated produce of Red Feather, a Group 3 winner and runner-up in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.