Three-year-olds and up. One mile and six furlongs. Fillies and mares. First run 2003
This race was introduced to the Goodwood programme in 2003 as the Gladness Stakes, a Listed contest named after the 1958 Coutts Goodwood Cup winner, and the Rae Guest-trained Moments Of Joy won from nine rivals by coming from last to first. The three-year-old filly ran well in the final Classic, the St Leger at Doncaster, finishing fifth.
The following year the contest was upgraded to Group Three status and called the Lillie Langtry Stakes after the famous actress and mistress of the future Edward VII.
Astrocharm beat Pongee who went on to run second in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks. Tartouche, trained near Arundel by Lady Harries, won in 2005 and followed up in 2006. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Hi Calypso came from last to first as she claimed victory in 2007, before defeating All My Loving in the Group Two Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
Gravitation and Folk Opera provided a treat in 2008 as they duelled to the line from fully two furlongs out. The William Jarvis-trained Gravitation, ridden by Alan Munro, nailed her rival in the final stride to clinch a hard-fought success. The runner-up subsequently triumphed in the Grade One E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, Canada. Moet Hennessy sponsored for the first time in 2008.
Allison is the Publisher of Eclipse Magazine. She loves going to the Races and is learning to bet (despite being officially the worst bettor in the History of the Universe), there’s a lot more to learn…
