A review of the action from Saturday's meeting at Goodwood where Trawlerman returned to winning ways.
Trawlerman delivers on early promise
John and Thady Gosden’s Trawlerman avoided the traffic problems in behind to land the Coral Summer Handicap.
In a race full of hard-luck stories, Benoit De La Sayette guided the 6-1 shot to join the Mark and Charlie Johnston-trained duo of Themaxwecan and Golden Flame at the head of proceedings passing the three-furlong marker and Trawlerman was not for passing when sent on to win the race by his young rider.
The 4-1 co-favourite Bague D’Or was one of those that had to fight his way into contention and had to settle for a silver medal, while third-placed Euchen Glen was held up and ridden for plenty of luck, but encountered travel problems whenever Paul Mulrennan attempted to deliver the evergreen nine-year-old.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThady Gosden said: “We’ve been trying to get this horse settled as he’s been over generous in his races. We put a hood on him and he didn’t do as much. He has plenty of talent and is a genuine horse who gives you everything when you ask for it. We were trying to run him in a race that had a big enough field to try and get him settled. We will see where we go from here. Benoit is riding very well and has ridden another good race.”
De La Sayette said: “He showed us his true ability as he was settled and relaxed. Good horses take us to the line, and he’s one of them.
“The race panned out perfectly. We broke smartly and had a nice tow through, and when I pulled him out he went through the motions. He really showed his true ability today.”
On how his own year has been going he said: “It’s unbelievable to think that this year has flown as smoothly as this. I’m just overwhelmed with how things are going at the minute and hopefully they carry on.”
Balding strikes with The Foxes
Andrew Balding landed the British European Breeders Fund EBF Maiden Stakes for the second year running as The Foxes hunted down Richard Hannon’s Classic to open his account at the third attempt.
The Kingsclere handler took the corresponding race 12 months ago with subsequent Irish Guineas third Imperial Fighter and The Foxes, an expensive son of Churchill and closely related to Group winners Bangkok and Matterhorn, bounced back well from a disappointing showing at Royal Ascot.
Hannon’s 4-5 favourite Classic looked the most likely winner when looming into contention travelling stylishly two furlongs from home, but he was soon joined by The Foxes (5-1), who responded gamely to David Probert’s urgings in the saddle and won by a neck.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsBalding said: “I think he’s quite smart and going into Ascot I thought he was our best chance of a winner but her never showed up (in the Chesham). I was absolutely crestfallen when, for some reason, he ran no sort of race. We gave him a bit of time to freshen him up after that and he’s done well to win over seven furlongs.
“We will have a go in a Stakes race next and next year he should get a mile and a quarter or even a mile and a half. I told the owners to pick a good name for him because I’ve always thought he was good – hopefully it will work out.”
Star shines for Marquand
The Tom Marquand-ridden Many A Star shaded the verdict in a three-way finish to the Coral Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, a consolation race for the Stewards’ Cup.
Magnolia Cup winner Dark Shot came close to making every yard of the running for the second time this week, but was swallowed up by the 8/1 winner and runner-up The Lamplighter in the shadow of the post.
Oliver Cole, who trains the winner in partnership with his father, Paul, said: “He’d been quite busy before his last race at Newmarket where there wasn’t enough pace for him. We decided to give him six weeks off, during which time he put on some condition.
“Today the idea was to tuck in and get him cover but Tom couldn’t manage that from his awkward draw. He would get that (cover) in the Ayr Gold Cup but the ground would have to be quick.”
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsRest of the action
I’m A Gambler (18/1) struck for Mark and Charlie Johnston in the Medallia Handicap to give the yard their fourth success since 2015 in the race.
It was the second winner of the week for a stable who enjoy plenty of success at this meeting and Charlie Johnston said: “He has been a bit inconsistent this year, he ran very well at Hamilton in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup two starts ago, but was disappointing at Newmarket last week.
“He has become quite difficult in the stalls on occasions, completely missed the start in the Bunbury Cup so today, for the first time, we took a ticket to go in last. He came out nice and relaxed and in a good rhythm, it certainly helped the situation. He is very capable on his day and he has bounced back to his best.
“It has been a tough week, the fact that only one trainer has had more than two winners highlights how competitive it is now and how difficult it is to have multiple winners at these festivals. You have to enjoy every one that you get and hopefully we can round it off in the last.”
Kim Bailey’s Ajero, runner-up at Royal Ascot, won the concluding Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Handicap as the 7-2 favourite in the hands of Jim Crowley.
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