Doyle delight as he lands Goodwood handicap double for trainer Al Jehani

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 2, 2026

James Doyle rode Evening Saigon to victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood, securing a significant win for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and Wathnan Racing. This triumph marked Wathnan Racing’s seventh winner at the meeting, demonstrating their growing success in British flat racing since Al Jehani’s move from Qatar.

James Doyle secured a notable victory at the Glorious Goodwood meeting by riding Evening Saigon to win the Coral Stewards’ Cup, marking a significant achievement for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and their Wathnan Racing ownership. The win on August 1 completed a prominent double for Al Jehani, who had also captured the Golden Mile earlier in the week with Archivist.

Al Jehani, originally a leading trainer in Qatar before moving to Newmarket in 2023, has been building a successful presence in British flat racing. Both Evening Saigon and Archivist carried the colours of Wathnan Racing, the Emir of Qatar’s well-funded racing enterprise, which has been targeting success at the five-day Qatar-sponsored Glorious Goodwood festival. With Evening Saigon’s triumph, Wathnan Racing’s tally for the meeting rose to seven winners from 38 races, a marked improvement from the previous year’s single success.

Evening Saigon, a four-year-old, was returned at odds of 16-1, following a strong run to finish just ahead of the runner-up Stratusnine by a head near the track’s far rail. Close behind, Charlie Hills-trained Mitbaahy finished third, only a short head behind, while Completely Random was fourth. The 28-horse field made the win challenging, with positioning crucial to victory. Al Jehani praised Doyle’s skilled ride, noting that the jockey had done “the job perfectly” and that the management’s decision to keep Evening Saigon in training for the Stewards’ Cup after finishing seventh in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot six weeks earlier had paid off.

Doyle described the week as successful and said that the team had made a concerted effort to improve on last year’s results, which were considered disappointing. He credited Al Jehani and his team for their work with the horses and highlighted the tactical approaches they explored throughout the week to enhance their performances.

The Stewards’ Cup and Golden Mile are regarded as two of the most prestigious handicaps during the Qatar-sponsored event, which attracts significant attention in the flat racing calendar. Besides Wathnan Racing’s successes, prominent figures such as JP McManus also celebrated victories, with McManus’s Goodie Two Shoes winning the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes by a nose in a tight photo finish.

Among jockeys, Doyle’s four winners during the meeting placed him joint second in the jockey standings alongside Dylan Browne McMonagle, behind only Ryan Moore. McMonagle’s successes helped secure the top trainer accolade for his boss, Joseph O’Brien. The Glorious Goodwood festival continues to showcase a competitive mix of elite trainers, jockeys, and owners aiming for key victories in the summer racing season.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.