Qirat collects Criterion prize at the expense of Never So Brave
Last year’s shock Sussex Stakes winner back in front at York.
Shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat landed another upset to floor well-backed rivals in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes at York.
Last summer the Ralph Beckett-trained five-year-old gelding had provided one of the upsets of the season to land the Goodwood Group One as a 150-1 outsider.
And while he was shorter at the Knavesmire, returning at 8-1, he floored better-fancied rivals in Never So Brave (6-4 favourite) and Sabre Strike to land the Group Three prize.
Qirat was unruly in the stalls but was bounced into a lead by Silvestre de Sousa and took the field to the two-furlong marker.
After being joined and probably just headed by Never So Brave he battled back to get the better of that rival and pulled one and a half lengths clear at the line, with Never So Brave’s market rival Saber Strike doing his best work at the end in third.
De Sousa said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Ralph booked me for this horse.
“Obviously he is a Group One winner and he came to the right race. I think with the way the ground is, that is key for him, it’s not fast ground, there’s a bit of kindness in the ground out there. He loves to be in front, he was coming back and I had to roll him forward again.
“To me he’s a horse that feels he wants to go a bit further than seven furlongs and he feels like a mile-and-a-quarter horse. There is a strong pace with him and I knew he would last.
“You need to ask him questions and he will deliver for you. I wouldn’t be surprised if later he’s running in cheekpieces to help him travel. I am delighted to have a winner in those (Juddmonte) colours.”