Filly Posts Sussex Stakes Upset; Shamardal Wins

Soviet Song, the only filly in the 11-horse field, held off a late charge from Nayyir to win Wednesday's Cantor Odds Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood Racecourse.

Coming off a victory in the UAE Equestiran and Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I) in which she handed Attraction her first career loss, Soviet Song went to the outside with a quarter mile remaining and assumed the lead a furlong from the finish in the mile test. The 4-year-old daughter of Marju then held off challenges from Le Vie Dei Colori and Nayyir to defeat the latter by a neck.

Final time over a course rated "good to firm in places" was 1:36.98. Refuse to Bend, the 11-4 favorite, assumed the lead with three furlongs to go but gave it up after being bumped and eventually finished last.

Trained by James Fanshawe for owner-breeder Elite Racing Club, the Irish-bred filly has won six of 13 starts, with four additional second- or third-place finishes.

Also at Goodwood on Wednesday, Abdullah Buhaleeba's Shamardal established himself as one of the top 2-year-olds in Europe with a front-running victory in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (Eng-II). The final time for seven furlongs over "good to firm in places" turf was 1:27.41. Wilko, a U. S.-bred son of Awesome Again  , finished second in the 10-horse field.

The victory was the second in as many career starts for the Mark Johnston-trained son of Giant's Causeway, who is set to move up to group I company next out.