Evening Saigon, a 16-1 shot ridden by James Doyle from stall 10, clinched the £250,000 Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday, overshadowing the retirement announcement of former champion jockey Jim Crowley following a serious fall at York in August 2025.
Race Victory and Performance
The consensus among trainers before the draw was that high-numbered stalls would hold the advantage, but Evening Saigon moved smoothly towards the lead on the far side with about a furlong remaining, staying on well to beat Stratusnine (drawn five) by a clear margin. Mitbaahy, from stall 25, finished third on the stands' side.
This victory completed an impressive double for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, who had saddled Archivist, also at 16-1, to win the Golden Mile on Friday. Evening Saigon was also the seventh winner of the week for owner Wathnan Racing, based in Qatar.
Trainer and Owner Praise
Richard Brown, racing adviser for Wathnan Racing, commented: "James had a bit of a hard choice [from three Wathnan-owned runners] but he was pretty firm on riding this lad in the end." He added, "If you look at Hamad's statistics since he started training, they match up with the best trainers in the country. He's a phenomenal horseman and was a very good rider himself."
Jim Crowley's Retirement
Earlier in the afternoon, the weighing room paid tribute to Crowley, who is retiring after struggling to recover from injuries sustained in the York fall 11 months ago. Crowley began his career as a jump jockey before switching to the Flat, becoming champion jockey in 2016 and later serving as No 1 jockey for Shadwell Racing, founded by the late Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum.
Among his notable rides in Shadwell's blue-and-white colours were the brilliant miler Baaeed, sprinter Battaash, and King George winner Hukum. Reflecting on his career, Crowley said: "It's been a great career. It's just unfortunate that after my accident at York, my body couldn't get back to the level I want to be to race-ride again."
Impact and Legacy
Crowley's retirement marks the end of an era in British flat racing, with his achievements including a champion jockey title and victories in major races worldwide. His resilience and skill will be remembered, while the success of trainers like Al Jehani signals a new generation of talent in the sport.
