A fast-finishing Black Forza upset favourite The Strikin Viking to land the Markel Richmond Stakes for Irish handler Michael O’Callaghan.

Much of the pre-race talk was about Wathnan Racing’s new purchase The Strikin Viking, who went off as the 11/10 market leader, and he was soon in charge of proceedings of the six-furlong contest.

Despite an early challenge from Tropical Storm, trainer Hamad Al Jehani looked on course for his first ever British turf winner at the final furlong marker when The Strikin Viking moved clear in front.

At the this point, Black Forza was off the bridle near the rear and not in consideration before he clicked into top gear and made his move under Dylan Browne McMonagle.

The son of US first season sire Complexity motored down the inside to cruise past six rivals with only the leader ahead, who he overtook in the closing stages to win at 9/1 by half a length.

The son of Complexity became a first success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle and a second for trainer Michael O’Callaghan.

Breeze-up

Owned by Eleanora Kennedy and bred in the USA, Black Forza was bought for £220,000 at Doncaster’s breeze-up sale in April and won a maiden at Fairyhouse last time out.

O’Callaghan, who won the 2020 Molecomb Stakes with Steel Bull, said: “Fantastic – to win the Richmond is very special. This is a horse we bought at the breeze-ups. Goodwood has been lucky for us; I didn’t get to be here when Steel Bull won the Molecomb. For this horse to come here was kind of the plan even before he won his maiden, the loose plan. He’s a talented colt who loves that ground. He was flat out for the first half of the race and was just getting going at the line – he hit the line very strong. He’ll be better in a better race. We’ll enjoy today first and then make some plans.

“I think he just had a bit of class, more than raw pace. He wasn’t the fastest horse in the breeze-ups – he was maybe top 30 or 40, he wasn’t slow by any means, but it was my favourite breeze; he’s a very good mover, and it takes class to see out a race where they go very quick.

“I would be hopeful that he will get seven furlongs in time, and maybe, he might get a mile round a turn. He’s an American-bred horse – we’ll see how the rest of the year goes. You’re always taking a chance buying a dirt-bred horse to go on grass, particularly by a first-season sire. But it’s all worked out.”

McMonagle said: “It's my first ride here so I've got off to a good start! These are the kind of meetings you want to be riding winners at and a massive thanks to Michael and connections for giving me the leg up on this fella.

“Black Forza is a top-quality colt. He is improving and I still think he's going to come on a lot again. Stamina was never going to be a problem for us. He jumped fine and, after talking to Seamie Heffernan on the last day, we just felt that a little bit of cover would be the key to getting him relaxed in the first half.

“He came home good for me. I was kind of outpaced for the first half to be honest, but I knew they were never going to keep going the speed they were and he quickened up good when I needed him.”