Emirates horses storm the British Goodwood Racecourse today

Today, the eyes of horse lovers are turning to the ancient British “Goodwood” track, with the opening of the “Glorious Goodwood” festival, which continues until next Saturday, in an event that includes 38 of the strongest races, with the elite grass track horses competing for their titles on the international stage.

The opening day of the festival includes eight rounds, two of which are allocated to the horses of the second category, “Group 2”, compared to one round for the horses of the first category, “Group 1”, which is the highest ranked in the world. It is held within the series of the British Champions Racing season, in addition to four rounds for the “parity” category, and one round for beginner horses.

In its 2026 edition, the festival enjoys strong participation by Emirati horses, spread over its five days, starting with the first day, which witnesses the participation of 16 horses owned by Emirati owners, most notably “Trollermann”, which bears the logo of the “Godolphin” team, and “Raheeb”, owned by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who are competing for the title of the fourth round and the main “Goodwood Cup”, designated for purebred hybrid horses of the first category “Group”. 1” for 3200 meters of grass.

“Trollerman”, under the supervision of trainers John and Thedi Gosden, is heading to the “main round”, looking for rehabilitation from the most prominent candidate for the title, the Irish horse “Scandinavia”, under the supervision of veteran trainer Aidan O’Brien, after “Trollerman”, in the middle of last month, came in second place by a head behind “Scandinavia” in the “Ascot Gold Cup” for Class 1 horses.

“Trollermann”, who is eight years old, at “Goodwood”, is looking forward to achieving his twelfth victory in the world of racing, and the third in his career at the level of “Group 1” races, noting that his record includes winning the “Champions Day Long Distance Cup” at the conclusion of the British racing season, last October, at the “Ascot” track.

Under the supervision of trainer Roger Varian, the horse “Raheeb” renews the struggle with both “Trollerman” and “Scandinavia”, in a race during which the four-year-old horse, in its second consecutive appearance in the first category races, is looking forward to providing a strong performance and benefiting from the reduction in the distance, after he was satisfied in his last participation, last month, by coming eighth in the “Ascot Gold Cup”.