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King thanks public for support following death of Trueshan

30 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Alan King is taking comfort from the many messages of support he has received since the sad death of stable stalwart Trueshan in what he described as a “freak accident” at Goodwood on Tuesday.

One of the most popular Flat horses of his era, the star stayer was making the 35th appearance of his stellar career and fourth start in the Goodwood Cup he had previously won in 2021, when pulled up by Hollie Doyle at halfway, suffering what proved to be a fatal injury.

An emotional King was keen to pay tribute to a horse that provided him with many memorable moments and thanked the kind words both he and his team have received.

Alan King enjoyed some great moments with Trueshan (Mike Egerton/PA)

King told ITV racing: “It’s been a very tough 24 hours, obviously, but the one thing I will say is the outpouring of messages has been unbelievable.

“I knew he was popular, but there’s been well over 200 messages and I’m still getting them now and it means an awful lot, it has helped me and it has helped the staff.

“He’s been a friend and a very straightforward horse to train. Incredibly sound and I don’t think he’s ever missed a day, I don’t think he’s had a bruised foot, I don’t think he’s had anything. All right, there have been days we haven’t run him and that was solely because he didn’t want fast ground.”

King was also keen to stress that Trueshan’s death was nothing more than an accident and praised the veterinary team that attended to the nine-year-old.

Trueshan winning the Northumberland Plate (Richard Sellers/PA)

“What happened yesterday was a freak accident and nothing to do with the training or the ground and it is just one of those awful things that could happen going up the all-weather,” continued King.

“I remember old Viking Flagship who was retired and my hack. I never ride out Monday morning as we school and then Monday afternoon we turn them out in the outdoor school to let them chill and he got down, he rolled and took off, had a canter round and he broke a hind leg.

“It happens, it’s awful, but it does happen. Trueshan is coming back to Barbury, he will be buried to next to Viking Flagship, Balder Succes and Katchit, so that helps.

“It did help (being with him in the final moments) and Mark White my travelling head lad was there in an instant and I said please hang on until I get there to say goodbye. The vets were superb, I just want to get that across, it was peaceful, it was calm and they were professional and it means a lot.”

Cercene taking distance test in Nassau Stakes

30 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

After giving Joe Murphy the finest hour in his long training career at Royal Ascot, Coronation Stakes heroine Cercene steps up in trip in search of further honours in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

The experienced Irish handler has always thought of his star performer as a stayer in the making, but having excelled at a mile has so far been kept to no further than eight furlongs.

However, after Cercene’s thrilling victory at the Royal meeting, Murphy now scratches his long-held itch to move up in distance, where he is confident the daughter of Australia can hold her own once more in elite company.

Trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll celebrate (David Davies/PA)

“We were very happy with her since her last run and we’ll find out how we get on up in trip, so it will be a learning curve,” said Murphy.

“She’s so relaxed, we always thought she would be a mile-and-a-half filly but she proved us wrong by being so good at a mile. We’ve options we could try over those distances before the season ends, so we’re looking forward to running and we’re fortunate we have her.

“We have her in the Matron Stakes just in case she doesn’t get the trip, but if she does it opens up more options for us and I do think she will stay.

“This is another test and another Group One. She’s been third in a Guineas and won at Royal Ascot so she deserves to take her chance and plenty will be revealed by Friday.”

Whirl is a major player in the Nassau Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

If Cercene is to add a second Group One to her resume, she will have to crack the Ballydoyle duo of Whirl and Bedtime Story who will bid to give Aidan O’Brien a sixth victory in the 10-furlong feature, having also taken home the spoils with Opera Singer 12 months ago.

Bedtime Story showed the ability that made her such an exciting juvenile last term when second in the French Oaks last month.

However, it is Oaks runner-up Whirl who will carry chief Coolmore hopes having downed Andrew Balding’s subsequent King George second Kalpana in tremendous fashion to claim the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

“She’s a very straightforward, honest filly, she’s so uncomplicated it’s not funny,” said O’Brien.

“It was the obvious race for her and it isn’t over facing her, it’s baby steps her way and that’s why she’s coming here. We’ve been very happy with her since the Pretty Polly.”

See The Fire ran a big race in last year's Nassau Stakes — See The Fire ran a big race in last year’s Nassau Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

Balding takes another crack at Whirl, this time with See The Fire, who was thwarted by a neck in this race last year and reverts to competing against her own sex after a fine third behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

“She has started this year in fabulous form and was very impressive in the Middleton, winning a Group Two in easy fashion. And then we thought she ran a super race at Ascot against the boys in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes,” said Balding, ahead of a race that guarantees a spot in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

“As a three-year-old we didn’t see the best of her until we got to the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood where she was narrowly beaten. Then she went on and won the Strensall Stakes against older colts at York.

“There is evidence to suggest she is improving all the time, and she certainly looks to have done physically. She is an exciting filly, and hopefully the best is to come.”

John and Thady Gosden’s five-time scorer Running Lion completes the line-up, running at this distance for just the second time since her second in last October’s Prix de l’Opera.

Merchant looking to bank another big race for Highclere

30 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Merchant could ignite seismic dreams for his team if able to recreate his impressive Royal Ascot heroics and deliver HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes glory at Goodwood on Thursday.

Always held in high-regard by trainer William Haggas, the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned three-year-old excelled when landing the King George V Stakes and after connections resisted the temptation of an Ascot return and a daring King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes tilt, now climbs the ladder into Group Three company on the Sussex Downs.

“The Gordon was always the plan and the next logical step for him and a horse of his profile,” said Highclere’s Harry Herbert.

MERCHANT takes the King George V Stakes for @TomMarquand and trainer @WilliamHaggas. Congratulations to connections. pic.twitter.com/5CcXFLkYB5

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2025

“He comes into it – according to William – in really good form and he’s been working well at home.

“It’s one step at a time with him and we will see how he gets on but we would be very hopeful of a big show as he’s a fast-improving horse and one we think the world of.”

The last four winners of this have gone on to contest the St Leger and although his team are refusing to rule out a Classic tilt, it could be an audacious trip to Paris that comes calling in the autumn if Merchant continues his rapid progression through the ranks.

Herbert added: “The St Leger is certainly possible it’s just whether we want to go the mile and six route or whether we stick to a mile and a half.

Tom Marquand aboard Merchant shakes hands with Harry Herbert, after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“It will all depend on how he progresses and if he happens to win the Gordon Stakes we would then all being well head to the Great Voltigeur (at York, August 20) and if he happened to win that then the conversation would be do you go for the St Leger or have a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“I think it’s wide open at this stage and of course there is a lot of water to flow under the bridge still. But William and I have been discussing it for a while and I’m not certain the St Leger would be the right move for this horse, although I hate to say that now when we’re nowhere near that point.

“Hopefully all goes well at Goodwood and once that is out of the way we can go from there.”

Eve Johnson Houghton has already made her mark in the juvenile Group races this week and will bid for Super Sprint compensation with Havana Hurricane in the Markel Richmond Stakes.

Havana Hurricane was a Royal Ascot winner (John Walton/PA)

The Royal Ascot winner narrowly missed out on a huge bounty when beaten a short head at Newbury but now returns to six furlongs, the distance over which he went down fighting to Charlie Appleby’s reopposing Maximized in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom.

“It would be exciting to make it a Group Two double for the week,” said Johnson Houghton.

“He’s in great form, he’s done nothing wrong and I think six furlongs will really suit him now we know to hold on to him for a bit longer.

“We obviously kicked too soon at Epsom, but we learned from it.”

Clive Cox has bided his time since with Coppull since finishing third in the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting but with the form looking smart, is hopeful he can show the required progress in a race the Lambourn handler has won with Golden Horde (2019) and Supremacy (2020).

“I was really pleased with his effort in the Coventry and I just wanted to give him a little bit of time as he’s still developing,” said Cox.

Trainer Clive Cox will saddle Coppull (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s done nothing but please so far and this is another big step, but we really like him.

“It’s nice to be heading to these races with horses in form.”

Disappointing in the Coventry was Archie Watson’s Underwriter, but after being returned to Ayr for a confidence-boosting win since, attempts to go one better than owners Wathnan Racing’s The Strikin Viking who was touched off in this race 12 months ago.

“We took him back up to Ayr and he was impressive there on debut and again the other day, he just had a complete blip for whatever reason at Royal Ascot,” said Wathnan’s Richard Brown.

“We couldn’t find any reason for the poor performance at Ascot so we went back up to Ayr with a penalty and he showed us what he could do.

“It’s a step up in class, but we’ll find out where we’re at.”

Racing Bulletin for 30/07/2025

30 July 2025/in Racing Bulletin/by Geegeez News

Latest News and Features

Determined Dunum delivers again at Galway

Dubai Treasure strikes for Bin Suroor and Murphy

Galaxy gets Goodwood Eyecatcher honours

‘Devastated’ Hollie Doyle pays tribute to Trueshan

Field sights set on Sussex gold

Trueshan suffers fatal injury in Goodwood Cup

Scandinavia sees off Illinois for Ballydoyle one-two in Goodwood Cup

Morris Dancer one step shy of Vintage victory

Hollie Doyle shines as Witness Stand lifts Lennox Stakes

Zavateri defies penalty with Vintage performance

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Determined Dunum delivers again at Galway

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Dunum showed his liking for Galway once more with a tremendous front-running effort in the COLM QUINN BMW Mile Handicap.

Not that sharpest away but quickly to the front nonetheless in the hands of Seamie Heffernan, the Natalia Lupini-trained was pressed all the way through the final furlong by Bear Profit.

The 12-1 winner would not give way, however, as he made it three career wins at the Ballybrit festival.

Lupini said: “We couldn’t dismiss Galway and have been working towards both this race and the Ahonoora on Sunday. He did well today and Seamie is a great asset for a small yard like ours. Having a jockey of his calibre is a massive help.

“The horse usually jumps out smart, Seamie wasn’t going to give away his position and the horse enjoyed himself. He loves the downhill run into the dip and he battled well towards the line.

“We’ll see how he is at home, but hopefully he’ll also run in the Ahonoora.”

Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll have a big day booked at Goodwood on Thursday and warmed up in style with a runaway success for Pivotal Attack in the COLM QUINN BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

The trainer-jockey combination will team up with Royal Ascot heroine Cercene in the Nassau Stakes and were in the winner’s enclosure courtesy of this 9-2 chance, who fairly sprinted by hot favourite Amelia Earhart when asked.

Murphy said: “Our filly was very professional, she relaxed and when he asked her, she quickened. I think we have a nice filly going forward.

“I don’t know where we’ll go next, but the curve will be upwards anyway. I don’t know the calibre of race it was and the O’Brien-horse (Amelia Earhart) was a bit unlucky, but it was the way our filly did it – she did it very well.

“She is out of a Pivotal mare and we think she is stakes class.”

Cormac Farrell’s Sticktotheplan was sent off the 22-1 outsider of the seven-runner COLM QUINN BMW Novice Hurdle but shot through against the rail to win in good style.

The Willie Mullins pair of Vicar Street and La Note Verte seemed sure to fight out the finish approaching the last but the race changed drastically in complexion.

Emily Love was challenging, as was Timeless Treaty, but it was Sticktotheplan and Ricky Doyle who quickened up best of all to win by two and a quarter lengths.

“We fancied him and had a few quid on as we’ve always thought he was a very smart horse. It has taken time for the penny to drop and to race correctly. His jumping has come together and he has a huge future,” said Farrell.

“I tried to sell him on several occasions but nobody would buy him so I’m delighted, as I’ll be properly paid for him at some stage! I’m a big fan and he is a very exciting horse. He is a fine horse and that ground is as good as he’d want.

“It is so exciting to be in Galway as we don’t get many winners so to have a nice horse to run in a Listed race is great.”

Dubai Treasure strikes for Bin Suroor and Murphy

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Saeed bin Suroor and Oisin Murphy teamed up to win a Group One in Germany on Sunday and were on the mark again in the Goodwood finale on Tuesday with Dubai Treasure.

The lightly-raced filly was having her first run over six furlongs since August 2023, yet despite that the race looked over from some way out. Under The Twilight did close to within a neck, but the 85-40 favourite was value for much more.

Bin Suroor said: “She shows plenty of speed. I was going to run her at Doncaster in the seven-furlong Group Three, but when I talked to Oisin he said to keep her at six furlongs.

“She shows that speed in the mornings when she works. Now we’ll look for a nice race for her.

“She hasn’t run over six since she was two. She has the class for Group races.

“I think we’ll have to look for a nice race over six furlongs. She had a setback when she was in Dubai.”

Murphy was completing a double having earlier won on Andrew Balding’s Stellar Sunrise.

Westridge continued his progression with a wide-margin win in the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Billy Loughnane, the four-year-old has been faring well in handicaps recently and started a 6-1 chance in a field of 18.

From stall eight he hit his stride quickly and after a prominent passage through the race he took up the lead in the final furlong, then pulling clear of the chasing pack to score by an eventual three and a quarter lengths.

“He enjoyed the space around him today and Billy gave him a lovely ride. It is not easy in a big handicap field but he broke well and made use of him,” said John Gosden.

“He is owned by Glen Manchester, my wife and Nicholas Wrigley, so it’s a proper partnership.

“We did have him in the July sales but wisely we chose to take him out three days before the sale, thank God we did that.

“He’s a grand horse and he’s done well, the handicapper will get him now but to win the Chesterfield Cup is a dream come true because Glen is very much Goodwood orientated.

“It’ll have to be York now though I’m not sure which race, Mr Wrigley will demand it. Rachel is just the silent partner, she does whatever they want!”

Ruth Carr’s Brazen Bolt made the long journey from Yorkshire to Sussex worthwhile with success in the Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap, where he prevailed by a nose at 28-1 under Warren Fentiman.

Peter Furr, Doncaster-based winning owner-breeder, said: “He has been an unbelievable horse. We have bred a few horses but nothing like him. He went to Bahrain and won last year and when he came back he was not very well.

“He had ulcers, a bad tummy, stress, everything. Me and my daughter got him back and had him on a nebuliser. We took him to Ruth this season and she has been fantastic.

“We didn’t expect to win at York last time and we came here today thinking it would be really firm ground and when it wasn’t we didn’t expect this again. It doesn’t happen to people like us.”

Roger Varian’s Protest built on recent Listed efforts to make a winning handicap debut in the Ridgeview Fillies’ Handicap over a mile.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned and bred chestnut struck at 11-2, steered by Silvestre de Sousa to a one-length win.

Galaxy gets Goodwood Eyecatcher honours

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Goodwood Galaxy ran a race full of promise to finish fourth as a 25-1 shot in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Trained by David Menuisier, Goodwood Galaxy was a relatively cheap purchase at 45,000 guineas as a yearling but hails from the family of last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel and had made a winning debut at Salisbury late last month.

Swiftly hiked to Group Two company, Goodwood Galaxy was last approaching the final furlong but stayed on with real purpose to beaten just over two lengths by winner Zavateri, offering plenty of hope for the future at this seven-furlong trip and beyond.

‘Devastated’ Hollie Doyle pays tribute to Trueshan

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

An emotional Hollie Doyle paid tribute to her long-time ally Trueshan, after Flat racing lost one of its enduring stars at Goodwood on Tuesday when the hugely popular stayer suffered a fatal injury.

Doyle was riding Alan King’s nine-year-old for the fourth time in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, having won it in 2021, with the gelding taking part in the 35th outing of a stellar career, but pulled up sharply at halfway.

Remembering some of their great days together, which brought 11 victories, including three successive triumphs in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on British Champions Day, Doyle told the PA news agency: “I’m just devastated. It couldn’t be any worse. He was a special, special horse, I can’t think of anything else to say.

“I am gutted. He’s been amazing for me, a star, and those memories we have together are some of my very best.”

Trueshan put up one of the best weight-carrying performances of all time in the Northumberland Plate (Richard Sellers/PA)

A 16-time winner – three of them coming at Group One level – Trueshan had attracted a following that is unusual for a Flat horse due to his longevity.

In 2022 he dropped into handicap company to defy one of the highest marks in recent times when winning the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

Hollie Doyle and Trueshan were a match made in heaven (Steven Paston/PA)

James Given, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of equine welfare, told ITV Racing: “I want to express my sincere condolences to all the connections and anyone associated with the horse, no one is going to feel this more than them.

“He’s been a stalwart, he’s been a firm friend, he’s been everything to them

“What has happened unfortunately is just an accident, mid-race, in a straight line going up a hill. His left-hind pastern broke and left him in a situation that wasn’t recoverable from.

“Alan was able to get down there and assess him with the vet and they felt there was no option really but to put him down.”

Field sights set on Sussex gold

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Field Of Gold bids to continue his sensational summer when he meets his elders for the first time in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.

Narrowly denied Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden’s grey has made no mistake in two subsequent starts, demonstrating his dazzling acceleration in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His sire Kingman landed both of those Group One events before completing his hat-trick in this race 11 years ago and Field Of Gold is odds-on to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who takes over in the saddle from the suspended Colin Keane.

SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/ENbnZHKAZk

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025

“The horse is athletic, he’s got great balance, and hopefully he’ll handle the track well. It’s very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that’s for sure,” said John Gosden.

“He does have that great turn of foot, let’s hope we get a clear run and he can produce it on the day.

“His father won the Sussex in somewhat cheeky fashion, it was an extraordinary race. They literally crawled, then sprinted in the last two furlongs, and fortunately we got it just right on the line.”

Field Of Gold renews rivalry with St James’s Palace runner-up Henri Matisse, who had previously landed the French 2000 Guineas for Aidan O’Brien.

Henri Matisse takes on Field Of Gold again (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Wootton Bassett colt has three and a half lengths to find with the hot favourite from their Royal Ascot meeting and O’Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can at least close the gap.

“So far everything has gone well since Ascot and we’re looking forward to seeing him run,” he said.

“We think he’s gone the right way since Ascot.”

The older brigade is headed by Docklands and Rosallion, who were split by just a nose when second in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Harry Eustace, the trainer of Docklands, said: “The track should suit him. He has run there before (in 2023) and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don’t know whether I had him 100 per cent.

“He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality of the race might be another matter.

“It can’t be overstated how important he’s been for us for the last three years. We’ll cherish his two wins at Royal Ascot forever.

“We’re a relatively young business and he is by a long way our flagship horse – he has been key to everything that’s happened since.”

Meanwhile, Richard Hannon will be looking to replicate some of the great days his father enjoyed in this race with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Toronado as he runs his stable star Rosallion.

Sean Levey aboard Rosallion after winning at Royal Ascot last year (John Walton/PA)

Like Field Of Gold, the son of Blue Point suffered defeat in the 2000 Guineas before landing Classic honours in Ireland and then scoring at Royal Ascot and his loyal pilot Sean Levey is relishing this mouthwatering clash of generations.

He told Ladbrokes: “There’s no doubt Field Of Gold is going to be very difficult to beat, based on what we’ve seen of him so far. He’s an exceptional horse, but I think we have the right attributes to take him on.

“He’s a four-year-old this year which means he has to give away weight, but he’s improved with every run, in my opinion, from the Lockinge to just being denied at Ascot in the Queen Anne. He’s improved, as good horses do, and I know he’s in a really good place coming into this.

“To be fair, I think we were very unlucky to be denied in the Queen Anne by what was literally the flare of a nostril and he ran into a specialist in Docklands, who was very good on the day.

“But Goodwood is a different story altogether and Rosallion is a good horse who has shown his versatility across a number of racetracks.”

Trueshan suffers fatal injury in Goodwood Cup

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Flat racing lost one of its enduring stars at Goodwood on Tuesday, with the hugely popular Trueshan suffering a fatal injury.

Alan King’s nine-year-old was running in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup for a fourth time, having won it in 2021, and was taking part in the 35th outing of a stellar career. But he was pulled up by Hollie Doyle at the halfway point of the two-mile feature.

James Given, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of equine welfare, told ITV Racing: “I want to express my sincere condolences to all the connections and anyone associated with the horse, no one is going to feel this more than them.

“He’s been a stalwart, he’s been a firm friend, he’s been everything to them

“What has happened unfortunately is just an accident, mid-race, in a straight line going up a hill. His left-hind pastern broke and left him in a situation that wasn’t recoverable from.

“Alan was able to get down there and assess him with the vet and they felt there was no option really but to put him down.”

A 16-time winner – three of them coming at Group One level – Trueshan had attracted a following that is unusual for a Flat horse due to his longevity.

In 2022 he dropped into handicap company to defy one of the highest marks in recent times when winning the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

He struck up a famous partnership with Hollie Doyle, who rode him to 11 of his victories, including three successive triumphs in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on British Champions Day.

Scandinavia sees off Illinois for Ballydoyle one-two in Goodwood Cup

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Scandinavia got the better of stablemate Illinois in a thrilling finish to the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes, in a race overshadowed by a fatal injury to the veteran Trueshan.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained stable companions dominated the betting, so while Scandinavia was discarded by Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan’s mount was still only a 4-1 shot following his victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

Illinois attempted to make all but Scandinavia drew upsides over a furlong out and the two had it between them, with the concession of 14lb ultimately proving too much for Moore’s mount, who went down by three-quarters of a length. Sweet William stayed on for a never-nearer third.

A Ballydoyle 1-2

Scandinavia wins the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup 🏆#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/3MRejjTRCi

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 29, 2025

O’Brien immediately signalled the St Leger at Doncaster as the big aim for his winner.

“Wayne gave him a lovely ride – in the race at Ascot (Queen’s Vase) he was trapped six wide all the way and then at Newmarket Ryan said he felt like a very good horse,” he said.

“Illinois went out there in front and looked to have the race won, but then the other horse got him.

“We went to the Gold Cup (with Illinois) without a preparation and I know we haven’t seen the best of him.

“Scandinavia is a typical Justify, he just won’t lie down, he puts his head down and won’t be beaten.

Winning connections following the Goodwood Cup (PA)

“Lambourn didn’t go to the King George as we had one eye on York for him. It’s all out in the open and this horse is ready made for the Leger, which is where he will go.

“He (Scandinavia) travelled very well through the race, he has a great mind. Lambourn can go for the Voltigeur and then maybe for the Arc.”

O’Brien was also pleased with the performance of the runner-up, feeling his best is still to come.

He added: “I thought Ryan did everything perfect today on Illinois. He was out there and had the race won, and then the other horse just came and got him.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Illinois yet because I think we went to the Gold Cup a year too early and his preparation wasn’t right to win a Gold Cup.

“He ran an unbelievable race, and he’ll have the rest of the season, but often when that happens it can stop the progression you would really want to come. I really think we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”

Alan King’s hugely popular Trueshan, winner of the race in 2021, was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle at halfway, with news sadly emerging his injury had proved to be a fatal one.

Of the placed horses, Josh Gosden said of Sweet William: “He ran a very brave race and we couldn’t be more pleased with him. He’ll go to York and Doncaster now.

“A galloping track suits him, maybe a fiddly one like this doesn’t. Aidan’s runners controlled the early easy fractions. When they do that they are very hard to catch.”

Sunway was for fourth for locally-based David Menuisier, who said: “He was beaten fair and square, but he stays well and did his best. There was no excuse. He is just behind the best at a mile and a half to two miles. As long as Aidan turns up we will be settling for the places. I am thinking he could go for the Prix Kergorlay and maybe the Cadran, try to meet the French rather than the British.”

Morris Dancer one step shy of Vintage victory

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

John and Thady Gosden’s Morris Dancer took a significant stride forward when narrowly beaten in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

The Godolphin-owned son of Palace Pier was a winner when last seen in a Haydock novice, but with rivals proven at Group level, he was a 22-1 shot under William Buick.

Those odds meant little to him as he chased home Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri, missing out by just a short head on the line.

John Gosden said: “We are thrilled with him, he has run a great race. He won at Haydock and then just had a little niggle and cough. So we backed off and he has come here off the minimum work and run a great race.

“That’s the July Stakes form, with the winner by an old friend of ours in Without Parole. Morris Dancer is by Palace Pier so it is nice to see your old pals in Group Two races like this.

“William said don’t be frightened to step up to a mile with him and we will do that somewhere.”

Ed Walker is not inclined to lower the sights of Do Or Do Not after his third-placed run under Tom Marquand, the latest in a string of placings in highly-competitive races.

“He’s a star, isn’t he? He just doesn’t know how to win yet, annoyingly!” said Walker.

“I actually thought today he was coming in to win but it was just greenness and whatever you want to call it, he was wandering around a little bit. He seems to find a way of not winning, which is frustrating.

“I think we’ll go for something easier but I don’t think we need to go for a maiden or a novice. The horse who was second in the Chesham (Thesecretadversary) was then beaten at 2-13 in one, it happens.

“There’s nothing to gain, he doesn’t need to win a maiden or a novice.

“He is a really solid horse and we are throwing the kitchen sink at him. He keeps answering. We might just try to find a slightly lower race – not a maiden because there isn’t any point – to give him some confidence.”

Hollie Doyle shines as Witness Stand lifts Lennox Stakes

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Hollie Doyle was at her brilliant best to steer Witness Stand to HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes success and give Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole a marquee Group Two victory at Goodwood.

There was early drama as Ralph Beckett’s race regular and leading fancy Kinross was withdrawn at the start after receiving a kick, while Ed Walker’s Royal Ascot winner Noble Champion was eased down and pulled up early into the piece.

However, Doyle avoided any complications as she latched Witness Stand on to the small cluster to go forward from start, always in the slipstream of customary front-runner Quinault and defending champion Audience.

It looked momentarily like Audience would recreate last year’s heroics, but the 25-1 winner found plenty in reserve inside the final furlong to gallop home two-and-three-quarter-lengths clear of William Haggas’ Lake Forest, the only runner to emerge from the chasing pack late on.

Insole said: “As a trainer you wait your whole life for a good horse and to win the Lennox is pretty incredible.

“We bought him for a hundred grand and felt he’d gone under the radar as there were higher offers for him that came our way afterwards. I already had this race in mind for him.

“It was his Chester run (second in a Listed race) that gave us the confidence to come here, and when I saw the rain this morning and the slower ground I knew it would be to his advantage.

“He’s in the Hungerford (at Newbury), but would have to carry a penalty now. I also put him in the Foret this morning.”

For co-trainer Newland it was a red-letter day in his new venture alongside Insole training on the level alongside his Grand National heroics in the jumps sphere. He is also a part-owner of the winner.

Newland said: “It’s a great result and fair play to Jamie and all the team. It was a lovely ride from Hollie in a funny sort of race, but I’m not complaining.

“Jamie leads the Flat team day-to-day, but I am involved in the background and discussing the training and placing of horses.

“I’m also a part-owner of that horse so it’s a terrific result. He was bought to be a flag bearer due to his high rating and it was a superb bit of purchasing by Jamie and Matt Holdsworth at the sales and now we’ve had a payday to get some money back and give us a high-profile winner which is fabulous.”

He added: “It’s more than dipping our toe in and we’re more of a Flat yard now. There’s a number of reasons for that but I’m loving the new challenge of it and it’s quite a big thing to try and re-establish yourself as a Flat yard after being a jumps yard for so long.

“I’m thrilled with how it’s going and we’ve some lovely horses coming through. It’s great fun and I’ve been doing the job 20 years so it’s nice to have a new challenge.”

Zavateri defies penalty with Vintage performance

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri gamely maintained his unbeaten record when defying a penalty in holding off Morris Dancer in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

A surprise winner of the July Stakes at Newmarket, he was still a fairly generous 8-1 for this Group Two affair, mainly due to the fact he was carrying 3lb more than such promising types as Humidity and Dorset.

Charlie Bishop still had five in front of him with two furlongs to run, but when the gap came he shot through it and while immediately challenged by John and Thady Gosden’s Morris Dancer, he stuck his neck out and had his head in the right place on the line. The Ed Walker-trained Do Or Do Not placed yet again in third.

“After Newmarket I didn’t know where to go because when you have a 3lb penalty it’s damn hard,” said Johnson Houghton.

“It was either come here or wait until Doncaster, but so glad we did. He had to win his race twice after cutting through them like a knife through butter.

“I put him in the Mill Reef this morning, but that’s out of the question now as we will head for the Dewhurst with the Jean-Luc Lagardere as a back up.

“He’s never had to tough it out at home, but he did today. What a dude he is, just a lovely, lovely horse.

“Dad (Fulke Johnson Houghton) trained (2002 Dewhurst winner) Tout Seul when I was around, and he was brilliant, but this one would be better, I think. There’s nowhere to go now before the Dewhurst so we’ll have to wait for that.”

Bishop added: “It’s a massive performance with a penalty. We’re getting closer, step by step (to thinking about the 2000 Guineas), I don’t know how much more racing he’ll have this year but the Dewhurst will be where we work back from, after that then I think we can talk about the Guineas. He’s seen the seven out extremely well today, headed and rallied and was strong at the line.”

Westridge powers clear in Chesterfield Cup

29 July 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Westridge continued his progression with a wide-margin win in the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap at Goodwood.