Black Forza , a 2-year-old colt by Kentucky-based stallion Complexity  , produced a late show to pick up a thrilling success in the Aug. 1 Richmond Stakes (G2) at Goodwood Racecourse.

Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle and trained by Michael O’Callaghan, the son of America’s leading freshman stallion and sire of 2-year-olds by progeny earnings looked outpaced in the early stages but swept past his rivals in the closing stages for a narrow victory.

It was a first Goodwood success for McMonagle, who told ITV Racing: “It was my first ride here, too, so it’s a good start. These are the meetings you want to be riding winners at.

“He’s a top-quality colt who’s still improving. He’ll come on a lot for it again. Stamina was never going to be a problem for us and I was outpaced for the first half of the race, but I knew they were never going to keep going at the speed they were at.”

Black Forza was introduced at 33-1 by Betfair Sportsbook for next year’s English Two Thousand Guineas (G1), although connections are unsure if that trip might stretch him.

O’Callaghan said: “To win this is a very special race. It was the loose plan before his maiden and he’s a talented colt who loves that ground. He was just getting going at the line…

“He just has a bit of class more than raw pace. It takes class to see out a race like that and he will get seven furlongs in time, and he might get a mile around a turn, too.”

Black Forza has won two of three starts and earned $139,215. The Strikin Viking , sent off the 11-10 favorite, was half a length back in second, with 40-1 outsider Intrusively  finishing third.

Group 2 Winner Adds to Complexity’s Hot Start

Black Forza is the second graded or group winner and third black-type stakes winner for Complexity, who stands at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. His 2024 fee was $12,500.

Black Forza was bred in Kentucky by Dash Goff. He is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Harlee Honey, a half to grade 2 winner California Nectar  (Stormy Atlantic). Harlee Honey had a colt by Blame   in 2023 and a colt by American Freedom   in 2024.

Black Forza sold three times at auction. First offered as a weanling at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by Four Star Sales, he sold for $27,000 to Ramon Tallaj, MD. He came back at the 2023 edition of Fasig-Tipton’s The July Sale (with C & S Thoroughbreds), where he sold for $65,000 to Powerstown Stud.

O’Callaghan picked him up for $273,903 at the Goffs UK 2-year-olds Breeze-Up Sale in April from the Powerstown consignment.

Fasig-Tipton will offer a share in the leading young sire at its upcoming The Saratoga Sale. The Complexity share, consigned by Airdrie Stud, will be the first offering in the auction’s second session Aug. 6.