Ten To Follow Update 09.08.2019
This week includes:
- Six days of point scoring action
- A ‘glorious’ week at Goodwood
- A final win for Champion Too Darn Hot
Tuesday
Highlighted as one of British racing’s greatest Flat festivals, this year’s renewal of Glorious Goodwood was certainly one to remember.
On a wet and windy first day of the meeting, Pinatubo was an impressive winner of the Vintage Stakes for the Godolphin Blues. In the Lennox Stakes, Sir Dancelot was victorious having been held up by jockey Gerald Mosse before making headway and leading inside the final furlong to win by a length.
It goes without saying however that the highlight of the day came in the Goodwood Cup. Stradivarius, a name seen throughout many of our member’s teams switched left entering the final 2 furlongs, before making headway and taking command of the race. It could be said that Frankie Dettori played it a little too cool by celebrating before the finishing line and winning by a neck, however, this does not take away from Stradivarius’ position as one of flat racing’s greatest stayers.
Wednesday
As the weather improved for the second day of the Goodwood Festival, international runners formed a strong field to line up in the Molecomb Stakes. However, it was favourite Liberty Beach trained by John Quinn and ridden by Jason Hart who didn’t have the easiest of runs but found a gap late on to win by a length.
Too Darn Hot regained his position as a Group 1 Champion by winning the Sussex Stakes with a competitive battle to the line alongside Irish raider Circus Maximus. Too Darn Hot’s racing career has unfortunately come to a sudden halt having sustained a career-ending leg injury, though we look forward to seeing his progression as a stallion when he begins stud duty at Dalham Hall Stud in the new year.
Thursday
Thursday’s point scoring action started with the Richmond Stakes where a strong dual between Richard Hannon’s Threat and Clive Cox’s Golden Horde saw the latter prevail by three quarters of a length. Mark Johnston, who had a fantastic overall Goodwood meeting saw his Nayef Road battle well to win the Gordon Stakes from Aidan O’Brien’s favourite Constantinople.
Whilst it was a day of competitive races throughout, this year’s Thursday will be remembered as Japan’s day. Seen as a slight outsider in the market at a price of 20-1, the Japanese trained Deirdre took command in the final furlong to land the Fillies and Mares Nassau Stakes by just over a length. Her jockey, Oisin Murphy, picked up the ride following a short stint in Japan during the previous winter months.
Friday
A jam-packed day of racing saw four races eligible for this week’s point scores. Unfortunately, none of our members were able to pick out the winner of the Oak Tree Stakes, Billesdon Brook. The same can be said for the winner of the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, Duke of Hazzard, adding to P J McDonald’s total tally to four winners over the week and subsequently landing his first Racing TV Leading Jockey Award. However, success came for many of our members when short-priced favourite Battaash landed Friday’s feature race, The King George Qatar Stakes. Finally, came the Bombay Sapphire Glorious Stakes. As a favoured horse in the yard, David Simcock was delighted to see his horse Desert Encounter come out on top in a small but competitive renewal of the race.
Saturday
Our final points scoring race from Goodwood came in the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. Again, no one was able to pick out the winner here that saw Enbihaar win impressively by 5 lengths to add to John Gosden’s remarkable tally for the week.
It was then a move to Newmarket for the Chalice Stakes, a Listed race for Fillies & Mares. The Japanese bred Love So Deep was a pleasing winner for trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, and a first Listed win for the horse after some credible runs this season.
Sunday
To top off the week it was up to Chester for the Queensferry Stakes. On Good to Soft ground it was favourite Major Jumbo for Kevin Ryan and Kevin Scott who kept on well to win by over three lengths. Ryan capped off a fine day on Sunday by also winning a Listed contest in Deauville and finishing second in the Prix Maurice De Gheest. He currently runs a 22% strike rate in the last 14 days.
The latter part of last week was in many regards very difficult for our members to find the winners if Battaash is excluded. However, it cannot be denied when saying it was a week of incredible stories with some of flat racing’s greatest names on show.
Paul Timms and Alan Wellsteed have now pulled away a little at the top of the leader board tied on 505 points apiece. However, strong points scoring for Mervyn Broom and Ben Cook have seen them enter the Top 10. We look forward to seeing how points may change with racing from Haydock and Newmarket this weekend!