Bow Echo took his record to an unblemished six from six as he landed the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. Partnered by Billy Loughnane in each of them, the pair defied Gstaad for the third time despite Coolmore’s attempt at boxing them in.
Bow Echo travelled well in rear, with Billy Loughnane unperturbed by Puerto Rico penning him in. Once rounding the bend, he followed Gstaad into the race and quickened past him late on. It was an excellent performance, and he became the first since Frankel to win the 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace and Sussex Stakes in the same season.
Speaking to the Press Association after the race, via Racing Post, trainer George Boughey said: “That was an explosive turn of foot. I think it was a bit messier than what we thought it’d be and huge credit to Billy Loughnane again. He was ice-cool. This is an extraordinary horse but he’s got an extraordinary rider to go with him. It gives me huge satisfaction to see Billy producing the horse like he did, but fundamentally what a horse.
“To have the constitution to deal with another rough race and to be able to relax through it. And find the line as strong as he did, I’m lost for words a little bit.
“He’s so fast – he’s just like a motorbike. He’s a horse who stays the mile well but he’s also got an exceptional turn of foot. Billy has had amazing belief in this horse for a long time and so have I.”
‘I always felt like I was going to run them down’ – Billy Loughnane
20-year-old Billy Loughnane displayed a tremendous amount of composure throughout, demonstrating how beyond his years he is.
Loughnane said: “I knew there was going to be pace on in the race. And they ensured that it was a testing gallop. I found the tail of Ryan’s horse after a couple of furlongs and I was happy in that. But then Christophe arrived on my outside and had me in a little bit of a pocket. That didn’t make life easy for me and I had to wait a little bit before moving. But when we did he really let down well – he’s a horse with a blistering turn of foot.
“Me and George watched millions of these races back and the closer almost always gets up in the Sussex. I knew I was going to have to play him late, so that was always going to be the plan. I was always going to take my time. Get him to relax and get him into that rhythm he’s got. I had to just wait to get out, but I wasn’t worried. I still had a furlong and a half from there to the line. From the furlong pole onwards I always felt like I was going to run them down.”
Boughey suggested it may be France next for Bow Echo, with the potential to finish the season at the Breeders’ Cup.