2026 Sussex Stakes Result and Replay - Bow Echo defeats Gstaad in another Goodwood classic

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 29 Jul 2026 16:28

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Full result of the 2026 Sussex Stakes
Bow Echo won the Group One feature at Goodwood on Wednesday
Watch a replay of the Sussex Stakes finish here on our website

Billy Loughnane riding Bow Echo (yellow) win The Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. (Getty)

The generations clashed for the first time over a mile at Goodwood today, as a quality field contested the Sussex Stakes.

Bow Echo has been one of the stars of the 2026 season, having won the 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. Aidan O'Brien's Gstaad had finished second to Bow Echo in both of those Group Ones, and the bookmakers had the two leading three-year-olds a little way clear of the chasing pack.

Opera Ballo represented Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. Ten Bob Tony remained at Group One level following a shock victory in the Queen Anne Stakes. Lake Forest was out at Goodwood again, having won the Lennox Stakes on day one.

Eve Johnson Houghton was represented by last year's Vintage Stakes winner Zavateri. Ballydoyle second-string Puerto Rico also represented the three-year-olds, along with the team's pacemaker, Dorset.

Qirat caused an almighty shock when winning this race at 150/1 last season. Like Lake Forest, the defending champion was making his second appearance of the week after finishing fourth in the Lennox Stakes. Group One winners Docklands and Never So Brave took their chance, along with Oisin Murphy's mount Seagulls Eleven.

2026 Sussex Stakes Result

Position	Name	SP
1st	Bow Echo	10/11f
2nd	Gstaad	4/1
3rd	Opera Ballo	9/1
4th	Ten Bob Tony	16/1
5th	Zavateri	20/1

Opera Ballo was the first to show under William Buick, with Qirat going forward for the second year in a row. Dorset was supplemented into the Sussex to make the pace, and Wayne Lordan took the outsider straight to the front after the first furlong.

Gstaad started quickly, but was reined back to fifth by Ryan Moore going into the bend. Billy Loughnane and Bow Echo sat on Gstaad's tail, with Puerto Rico on his outside. Zavateri was held up at the rear, along with the well-backed Lake Forest and Never So Brave.

Dorset set some rapid early fractions, and was already starting to back-pedal as the field straightened up for home. In a bid to steal a march on the three-year-olds, William Buick booted Opera Ballo into the lead, and Charlie Appleby's colt grabbed the rail with three furlongs to travel.

Gstaad had travelled ominously well throughout. Ryan Moore had Buick in his crosshairs, and Gstaad quickly forged into the lead. Billy Loughnane wasn't far behind, and angled Bow Echo into the centre of the track. George Boughey's star was inching closer to Gstaad heading into the final furlong, and managed to wrest a narrow advantage as the leaders crossed the line.

Loughnane screamed to the stands as he claimed his third Group One victory in a row. Gstaad ran another massive race to finish second, with Opera Ballo holding on along the rail to claim a podium finish.

Ten Bob Tony had been held up, but ran another mighty race to finish fourth. Zavateri made up stacks of late ground to secure a top-five finish. Never So Brave and Lake Forest were next across the line.