Hamoody showed battling qualities to land the �70,000 Sterling Insurance Richmond Stakes by a head from the front-running Bodes Galaxy at Goodwood on Thursday, to earn a 20/1 quote with the sponsor for next year`s Stan James 2000 Guineas.

Alan Munro produced the 5/6 favourite to challenge above the distance but the juvenile took a while to master his opponent in the 1200m Group Two contest .

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam commented: "I was not happy with the way he travelled. We were going to drop him in but he broke well and could not get any cover. With cover he can switch off and he is a better horse when he switches off.

"He will keep improving. He is still a baby. He will relax with cover and all he needs to do is grow up mentally, then we`ll be okay.

"I think he is very good and we will probably wait until the Dewhurst now."

Asked how the colt compares to stablemate Dutch Art, the trainer replied: "They have never been together. You never compare your friends. They are two very good horses."

Munro said: "He is a very good horse but he is young and does not know what he is doing yet.

"He travels like a six-furlong horse but he wants seven furlongs. He just needs to grow up and learn to settle.

"The second is a good horse, because he picked up again when we came to him."

Hamoody is now 25/1 from 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas with William Hill, while Paddy Power leave him unchanged on 25/1. Ladbrokes and VC Bet are unchanged at 33/1.

Bodes Galaxy could finish only second in this prestigious Group 2 contest for juvenile colts and geldings, but being beaten a head by a horse that is now contesting favouritism for next year`s Stan James 2000 Guineas was no disgrace.

After Bodes Galaxy had succumbed by a mere head to odds-on favourite Hamoody, the runner-up`s trainer, Nick Littmoden, said: "The winner had to pull out all the stops to beat us. Ours is a lovely colt and we`ll keep him on the go because he`s learnt what it`s all about.

"I`m sure there`s a Group race in him somewhere and we`ll review plans later in the year. He`s a real smart animal. He`s a chunk of muscle and all heart.

"We`ve got various entries for him, including the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and we`ll put him in the Dewhurst Stakes now. He`s durable - you could drop him back to five or step him up to seven furlongs, but six looks good."

Trainer Mark Johnston is considering a new trip for third-placed Dubai`s Touch. Johnston said: "He`s run a very good race and always does. We`ll probably step him up a furlong or two now, but I`ve no thoughts about any particular race."

STERLING INSURANCE RICHMOND STAKES Group Two, �70,000 Guaranteed. For 2yo colts & geldings, 1200m.

1st: �39,746; 2nd: �15,064; 3rd: �7,539; 4th: �3,759; 5th: �1,883; 6th: �945

1) HAMOODY (Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar) Peter Chapple-Hyam 2-9-00 Alan Munro [6] 5/6 Fav

2) BODES GALAXY (Mark Harniman) Nick Littmoden 2-9-00 Micky Fenton [7] 12/1

3) DUBAI`S TOUCH (Salem Suhail) Mark Johnston 2-9-00 Joe Fanning [3] 4) LA NEIGE (Ridgeway Downs Racing) Mick Channon 2-9-00 Tony Culhane [2]

5) DANEBURY HILL (Britton House Stud Ltd) Brian Meehan 2-9-00 Frankie Dettori [1]

6) MOOD MUSIC (John Fretwell) Eoghan O`Neill 2-9-00 Richard Mullen [4]

7) DAZED AND AMAZED (Mrs R Ablett) Richard Hannon 2-9-00 Richard Hughes [5]

7 ran Time: 1m 10.68s Distances: hd, 1.25, .75, 1.5 .75, 4 Breeder: Ragged Mountain Farm Breeding: ch c Johannesburg (USA) - Northern Gulch (USA) (Gulch (USA))