By Tom Frary
So impressive in the Greenham this spring, Juddmonte's Jonquil (Lope De Vega) has had to wait to add to his tally but proved as game as he is talented on Sunday to land Goodwood's G2 Celebration Mile. Sent off the 3-1 second favourite, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred relative of Frankel who had been runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains before two unplaced efforts over shorter stayed on under Colin Keane to reel in the Group 3-winning three-year-old filly Saqqara Sands (Oasis Dream) late on and record a neck success.
“It's a huge result and credit to Andrew and the team down at Kingsclere,” Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said. “He was nearly a Classic winner but for the barest of margins and obviously we then made an error of judgement dropping him back to six furlongs and it's just taken us a little while to get him back on track. He's firmly back on track today and the great thing was Colin felt he could maybe get a little bit further, which opens a few more avenues.”
“It probably wasn't the strongest-run mile and going a better pace he may even get the mile better, but he's a talented colt and it will be exciting to work out where we go next,” he added. “It most definitely has to be the aim to get him back in Group One company before the end of the year, he was a nose away from being a Classic winner so we'll be working towards Group Ones.”
Back. In. Business …
pulls out all the stops to take Group Two honours in a belting renewal of the @VirginBet Celebration Mile @Goodwood_Races @AndrewBalding2 | @ctkjockey | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/Tc4hdmbKVa
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Jonquil is the first foal out of the dual Listed-placed Jovial (Dubawi), a daughter of the dual Listed scorer and multiple Group-placed Joyeuse (Oasis Dream) who produced five black-type performers including this stable's Mill Reef winner Array (No Nay Never) and the Coronation Stakes third Jubiloso by Lope De Vega's sire Shamardal.
The third dam is the legendary broodmare Kind (Danehill), of course responsible for the aforementioned Frankel and Noble Mission, while the family also features Sadler's Wells's Arlington Million and Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Powerscourt. Jovial's yearling filly is by Wootton Bassett, while she also has a filly foal by Blue Point.
Sunday, Goodwood, Britain
VIRGIN BET CELEBRATION MILE STAKES-G2, £158,500, Goodwood, 8-24, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.80, g/f.
1–JONQUIL (GB), 127, c, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Jovial (GB) (MSP-Eng), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Joyeuse (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: Kind (Ire), by Danehill
TDN Rising Star. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd; T-Andrew Balding; J-Colin Keane. £89,885. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 7-3-1-0, $377,379. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Saqqara Sands (GB), 124, f, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Royal Star (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O-D J Deer; B-D J & Mrs Deer; T-Ralph Beckett. £34,078.
3–Arisaig (GB), 130, f, 4, Harry Angel (Ire)–Magic Nymph (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (6,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Chasemore Farm; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd; T-Charlie Johnston. £17,055.
Margins: NK, HF, NK. Odds: 3.00, 8.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Make Me King (Fr), Ice Max (GB), Persica (Ire).
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