Evening Saigon delivered a decisive victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, securing a narrow win in a competitive finish. The gelding, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Hamad Al Jehani, was priced at 16/1 and marked the owner’s seventh winner at the Glorious Goodwood meeting.

Ridden by James Doyle, Evening Saigon broke swiftly from stall 10 and was soon positioned with the group racing on the far side of the track. Maintaining a close presence within that cluster, the horse advanced strongly in the closing stages, taking the lead just as the final furlong began. Despite hanging slightly to the right under pressure, Evening Saigon held on tenaciously, crossing the line a neck ahead of 25/1 outsider Stratusnine.

Mitbaahy, at 14/1, finished just a nose behind in third place, narrowly ahead of Completely Random, who entered the race at 7/1. Favourite Two Tribes, sent off at 5/1, finished further back in the field.

After the race, Doyle described Evening Saigon as a challenging mount, noting the gelding’s early eagerness to break free but praising his overall fitness and responsiveness. He explained that the race unfolded perfectly, with a well-managed pace and positioning that allowed him to draft behind competitor Dark Thirty before making a move for the lead. Doyle also noted the strong competition from the runner-up, referencing a recent win aboard Stratusnine at York, acknowledging the quality of the challenge to the finish line.

The victory underscored Wathnan Racing’s strong presence at the Goodwood festival and highlighted Evening Saigon’s capacity to perform under pressure in one of the season’s notable sprint handicaps.