Al Qudra runner-up in G1 Summer Stakes

Al Qudra chased home fellow UK raider New Century in an eventful finish to the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine, Canada, on Saturday, 14 September. 

The first two home were meeting each other for a second time, with Al Qudra having finished two and a quarter lengths clear of New Century when they finished first and second in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot in late July. 

Al Qudra was steadied towards the rear of the 10 runners and the No Nay Never colt travelled strongly around the field turning in, with New Century tracking the Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile into the race. 

Dream On quickened away from the field with two furlongs left as Al Qudra and New Century both laid down strong challenges down the centre of the course. 

Al Qudra soon moved up to second, despite wandering, but William Buick was forced to check when Dream On drifted out entering the final furlong and hampered the Godolphin runner, a move that also impeded New Century. 

New Century went on inside the final half-furlong, with Al Qudra rallying to take second from Dream On close home. 

Godolphin’s other runner, First Resort, was shuffled back after meeting early traffic of his own. The Eoin Harty-trained colt saw out the mile well on his first turf appearance, finishing a clear fourth under Umberto Rispoli. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Al Qudra has run a good, solid race and take nothing away from the winner. Our horse will have learned plenty again today and we will review over the coming weeks whether he is a potential Breeders’ Cup horse or not.”