The Gurkha Edges Galileo Gold in Sussex

A trio of 3-year-olds stole the show in the £1 million ($1.31 million) Qatar Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) with French classic winner The Gurkha (GB) taking top honors July 27 at Goodwood.

Racing along the rail in the stretch of the one-mile Sussex, The Gurkha and jockey Ryan Moore bravely squeezed through classic winners Awtaad and Galileo Gold (IRE) to find clear running. The Gurkha unleashed a quick burst, but Galileo Gold spotted the move and quickened. But The Gurkha would prove relentless, forging a slim advantage in deep stretch to deny the English classic winner—as well as a late charge from Ribchester—to score a neck victory.

Galileo Gold held second by about a short head over group II winner Ribchester as the trio of 3-year-olds finished three lengths ahead of the next closest rival, 5-year-old Toormore in fourth.

Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor's The Gurkha, by Galileo (IRE), turned the tables on Al Shaqab Racing's Galileo Gold, by Paco Boy, who edged him by 1 1/4 lengths in the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) June 14 at Royal Ascot.

Galileo Gold broke well under Frankie Dettori in Wednesday's race and would lead his nine rivals into the stretch on the good to firm turf. With less than three furlongs remaining, Moore could be seen looking for room along the rail. When he spotted just a bit of daylight between QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) Galileo Gold and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) winner Atwaad, he pointed the Poule d'Essai Des Poulains (Fr-I) winner toward the gap and The Gurkha never hesitated.

"I was always very happy because he travels so well and I knew as soon as one horse in front folded an inch he'd be able to find room and make room," Moore said. "He has so much pace just to go where you want him when you need him. I was delighted with him today."

Trainer Aidan O'Brien secured his fifth Sussex victory as The Gurkha follows Giant's Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator, and Rip Van Winkle.

"He's a very strong traveller, he handles fast ground very well, and quickens very well," O'Brien said of his latest Sussex winner, adding that Moore delivered a splendid ride.

The Sussex is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race to the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I), awarding The Gurkha a spot in the Mile with all fees paid. All four of O'Brien's previous Sussex winners have raced in a Breeders' Cup race.

Bettors correctly expected a battle for the top spot by the two classic winners as The Gurkha was the 11-8 favorite and Galileo Gold was second-choice at 9-4.