Friday's G2 King George Qatar Stakes was a visual delight, with four across the track at the finish with American Affair (Washington DC) edging Goodwood's five-furlong feature.Placed once in four starts since his career-best success in Royal Ascot's King Charles III Stakes last June, the Jim Goldie-trained six-year-old was delivered stand's side by Paul Mulrennan to deny Rumstar (Havana Grey), Time For Sandals (Sands Of Mali) and Asfoora (Flying Artie) with a length separating the quartet who all finished widths apart from each other.“It all went to plan today,” Mulrennan said of the 12-1 winner. “We decided not to disappoint him–he's best when he's got his own room and he's a little ball of speed. He felt back to his best and he relaxed lovely–he's very genuine.”American Affair was just outside the 55.62 record of this race's four-times winner Battaash and the winning rider believed he had a hard-luck story. “He probably would have beaten Battaash's time, but I dropped my whip,” he revealed. “This race has always been at the back of our minds because it is such a fast track and we have the Nunthorpe now and possibly America would be nice.”Co-owner Wendy McGrandles added, “It is once in a lifetime for us as small breeders. He has had one or two excuses and we always felt that he was as good as he was last year. He was broken in to go eventing, because we were not sure whether he would be big enough or fast enough to be a racehorse. He can always do that as a second career!”The trainer's son George Goldie confirmed that York is the plan. “The plan is now to go for the Nunthorpe and then either The Curragh or maybe step up to six furlongs for the Haydock Sprint Cup,” he said.Henry Dwyer was buoyed by the return to form of Asfoora and refused to draw the curtain yet. “She has had a fair bit of racing and a lot of travel and she has made us incredibly proud,” he said. “She was left by herself probably 100 metres too early and that probably told in the last 50 metres. I am incredibly tempted by the Nunthorpe, but I don't think it is my decision. I will make a phone call to Akram, the owner. At the end of the day, it is his money and his horse and he can decide what he wants. Off today, you would think there is no reason not to – the door is ajar.” HE'S BACK! @JimGoldieRacing works his magic with , who bounces back to form to win a belting edition of the King George Qatar Stakes.@PMulrennan | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/WKMQw9JmeQ— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2026Pedigree NotesAmerican Affair is the last foal out of the multiple winner Classy Anne (Orientor) and a rarity at this level with a lack of black-type runners anywhere under the second, third and fourth dams.Friday, Goodwood, BritainKING GEORGE QATAR STAKES-G2, £300,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 3yo/up, 5fT, :55.68, g/f.1–AMERICAN AFFAIR (GB), 130, g, 6, by Washington DC (Ire)1st Dam: Classy Anne (GB), by Orientor (GB)2nd Dam: Class Wan (GB), by Safawan (Ire)3rd Dam: Ayr Classic (GB), by Local SuitorO-Barraston Racing & Mr J S Goldie; B-John McGrandles; T-Jim Goldie; J-Paul Mulrennan. £170,130. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 27-9-6-2, $1,132,152. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Rumstar (GB), 130, g, 6, Havana Grey (GB)–Stellarta (GB), by Sakhee's Secret (GB). O-Vincent and Russell Ward; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud; T-Jonathan Portman. £64,500.3–Time For Sandals (Ire), 127, f, 4, Sands Of Mali (Fr)–Days Of Summer (Ire), by Bachelor Duke. (€35,000 Ylg '23 TATIRY). O-Mr D Bevan and Mrs D Bevan; B-Ballyhane; T-Harry Eustace. £32,280.Margins: HF, NK, NK. Odds: 12.00, 6.00, 14.00.Also Ran: Asfoora (Aus), Jm Jungle (Ire), Lamborghini Bf (Ire), Partisan Hero (Ire), Aspect Island (GB), Spicy Marg (GB), Night Raider (Ire), Jakajaro (Ire), Brussels (GB), Dickensian (GB), Argentine Tango (GB), Azure Angel (GB).The post American Affair Wins King George thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.