Nathaniel sired a new Gr.1 winner today when Quickthorn stormed to victory in the Gr.1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. He was the seventh Gr.1 winner for Nathaniel from his first six crops to race.

It was a stunning six-length success for Quickthorn, having made all and running away from the field it was clear from some way out he would win for his trainer Hughie Morrison and owner/breeder Lady Blythe.

Jockey Tom Marquand, who produced one of the rides of the season, said “Quickthorn is a warrior in his own right. I’ve had a bit of fun on him before and today was about riding him to his maximum potential. He just loves bowling away and putting everyone else to the sword – it was an exceptional performance.
 
“It’s great for Lord and Lady Blyth because they have had a lot of fun with this horse and other horses. They are very passionate owners and breeders and you want them to find horses like this. It makes the game fun.
  
“Once I lit him up at the three pole, it was evident that we were going to get home – it was just whether something would have exceptional ability to come and catch him. It’s a nice feeling to go to that sort of race with that amount of stamina underneath you. Big performance.”

Winning trainer Hughie Morrison said: “Quickthorn is a galloper. He’s fantastic to train, because he goes past you every morning like a three-mile chaser. Every other horse has to do about three strides for his one.
 
“Tom got the fractions fantastically right, as he did at York last year. We all know how to ride him to his strengths – he’s a galloper, pure and simple, and we’re lucky to have him.”

Quickthorn has now won five Stakes races including the Gr.2 Lonsdale Stakes at York and Gr.2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil at ParisLongchamp, amassing nearly £800,000 in prize money for his connections.

He is out of Daffydowndilly (Oasis Dream), a daughter of Stakes winner Art Eyes and from the family of the Derby and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and leading sire High Chaparral.
 
Quickthorn’s owner/breeder Lady Blyth said: “It is amazing, because we’ve never had a Group One winner before, not ever, ever, ever, so this is absolutely fantastic.”