Alcohol Free floors Poetic Flare in Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

Alcohol Free got the better of favourite Poetic Flare to win the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy, Alcohol Free made full use of her slight pull in the weights to swoop through and see off Jim Bolger’s Poetic Flare, winner of the 2000 Guineas earlier in the year.

Alcohol Free, winner of the Coronation Stakes, had raced a little keenly through the early stages before Murphy managed to get her settled in behind, with Century Dream the first to kick for home at the top of the straight.

Poetic Flare then launched his bid in the final two furlongs, looking as though he had made a winning move until Alcohol Free came flying down the outside to lift the prize.