Qirat collects Criterion prize at the expense of Never So Brave
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 27 Jun 2026
Shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat landed another upset to floor well-backed rivals in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes at York.
Last summer the Ralph Becket-trained five-year-old gelding had provided one of the upsets of the season to land the Goodwood Group One as a 150-1 outsider.
And while he was shorter at the Knavesmire, returning at 8-1, he floored better-fancied rivals in Never So Brave (6-4 favourite) and Sabre Strike to land the Group Three prize.
Qirat was unruly in the stalls but was bounced into a lead by Silvestre de Sousa and took the field to the two-furlong marker.
After being joined and probably just headed by Never So Brave he battled back to get the better of that rival and pulled one and a half lengths clear at the line, with Never So Brave’s market rival Saber Strike doing his best work at the end in third.
Related posts
Chancellor looking to profit in Pat Eddery Stakes
Newbury contest on Sine Nomine radar
Fact To File gets the job done with minimum of fuss
Cesarewitch controversy leaves Crisfords ‘subdued’
Menuisier not looking too far ahead with Chantilly-bound Tamfana
Todays top offer
Get 1,000,000 Free Spins on J Cole
T&Cs Apply
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets with Midnite
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Testing JC
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved