American Affair claimed victory in the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes at Musselburgh on Saturday, marking a significant step in the sprinter’s return to form following a period of injury. Trained by Jim Goldie and ridden by Paul Mulrennan, the six-year-old overcame a challenging run this season to outpace stablemate Rumstar by half a length in a closely contested finish. Time For Sandals and Asfoora finished third and fourth respectively, separated by narrow margins.
Last summer, American Affair reached a career highlight by winning the Group One King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, an injury shortly afterward sidelined the sprinter, causing the horse to miss key races, including the York Group One Nunthorpe Stakes and a planned trip to the Breeders’ Cup in the United States. This year, American Affair’s first four starts resulted in defeats, including a disappointing last place in the Royal Ascot defense of his crown. Despite those setbacks, connections remained optimistic about the horse’s recovery and potential.
“It’s been about building him back to his best,” said George Goldie, who was on saddling duty at Musselburgh in place of his father. “He’s another year stronger after all that time off. Ascot was a bit of a disaster but he ran better at York despite a bad draw, so we came here hopeful.”
Jockey Paul Mulrennan noted that American Affair’s winning time was just 0.06 seconds off the track record set by Battaash in 2020 and suggested the horse might have established a new best if not for dropping his whip in the final stages. Mulrennan added, “On his day, he is very fast.”
Owners and trainers are now considering future targets, with plans reportedly in place to contest the Nunthorpe Stakes again on August 21, followed potentially by a trip to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup. Goldie remarked, “The plan is to go for the Nunthorpe and then possibly America. They’d love Jim over there!”
Meanwhile, Asfoora, an Australian mare with three Group One wins in Europe, may extend her racing career in Britain instead of retiring to serve as a broodmare in Australia as originally intended. Trainer Henry Dwyer expressed cautious optimism about a Nunthorpe return for the seven-year-old: “The door is ajar. I’m incredibly tempted, but I don’t think it’s my decision. I’ll make a phone call to [owner] Akram El-Fahkri – at the end of the day it’s his money and his horse.”
The victory provided a memorable moment for American Affair’s connections, including co-owner Wendy McGrandles, who highlighted the horse’s versatility and humble beginnings: “He was broken in to go eventing because we were not sure whether he would be big enough or fast enough to be a racehorse. He can always do that as a second career!”
Saturday’s King George Qatar Stakes win signals that American Affair, after overcoming injury and a tough season, remains a competitive force in sprint racing at the highest levels.