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Farhan too good in November Handicap

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John Butler’s Farhan cut through what appeared a typically competitive field to land the Virgin Bet November Handicap on the final day of the 2021 Flat season at Doncaster.

The three-year-old, runner-up four times this season – including his last three starts – was a well-supported 9-2 favourite under Hollie Doyle on Town Moor.

Farhan surged up the centre of the track and raced alone inside the final furlong to pull away and triumph by a length and three-quarters from Calling The Wind.

“It unfolded pretty well,” said Doyle.

“I jumped well from a bad draw (17 of 23) – it was one of the those races where you’re in or you’re out, so I had to ride him in there, straight and tight the whole way.

“He dropped the bridle, and we went a good gallop. I managed to latch on to (Jamie) Spencer (on the runner-up) – and who better to follow into a race?

“I got a nice lead through and I could have got there a bit later to be honest – he’s pricked his ears and run around in front.”

It made no difference, because Farhan had plenty in hand from the foot of the weights.

Doyle added: “I got there too easily really. He’s got no weight on him today, and I’m sure his mark is going to change dramatically after that – he’s very progressive.

“I rode him early on in his career, and he was a bit of a boyo, a bit of a playboy, but he’s really come to hand.

“Johnny (Butler) filled me with confidence. It was a great training performance, and today was his day.

“I knew what he was capable of. In these handicaps you need a bit of luck, because they can be quite messy and you need things to go your way – but I was on the best horse today.”

Hollie Doyle sets new record with Doncaster success

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Hollie Doyle achieved a personal best of 152 winners in a calendar year as she guided the well-supported Mustazeed to victory at Doncaster.

Doyle had been out of luck on her five previous rides on the Town Moor card, but the Chris Wall-trained three-year-old took the 25-year-old to yet another landmark.

Travelling sweetly into the straight, the 100-30 favourite challenged down the outside and stuck on gamely to hold the persistent bid of Aone Ally by three-quarters of a length in the concluding second division of the virginbet.com Handicap.

“It is a great feeling to pass last year’s total and set a new record. I am really grateful to all owners and trainers that have supported me this year and I hope that things keep moving forward as they have been,” Doyle told Great British Racing.

“Each year I aim to ride more winners and I want to improve in what I do all the time. I’m delighted to have achieved that goal and am pleased with how things have gone so far this year.”

Doyle was surpassing her own record of wins by a woman in a year in Britain, a benchmark she set last December when exceeding her previous best of 117 wins in 2019. Before Doyle’s three consecutive record-breaking years, the record was held by Josephine Gordon with 106 wins in 2017.

Trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Hector Crouch struck at the double with two-year-olds Moon De Vega and Jimi Hendrix.

Moon De Vega’s experience proved crucial as she wore down the newcomer Suffrajet in the Virgin Bet EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

With two runs under her belt, the daughter of Lope De Vega knew what was required and the 2-1 favourite rallied in game fashion after being headed, to score by half a length.

Jimi Hendrix (7-4 favourite) had one previous run but almost threw victory away in the British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Leading a furlong out, the New Bay colt tried to pull himself up close to the line and was only a short head in front of Beluga Bay at the line.

Postileo (85-40) gave a solid staying performance when overcoming a 129-day break to in the vertem.co.uk Handicap.

The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old, who is in the Tattersalls horses in training sale next week, kicked on two furlongs out and was not hard pressed to defeat Not So Sleepy under Andrea Atzeni.

Magical Spirit bounced back to form on his favoured soft ground to spring a 25-1 surprise in the Vertem Investing In The Future Handicap.

Space Cowboy is landmark 150th winner for Hollie Doyle

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Hollie Doyle recorded her 150th winner of the year as Space Cowboy capitalised on his Tapeta experience to book his place at All-Weather Championships Finals Day.

Richard Spencer’s colt was contesting Newcastle’s Watch Racing Free Online At Coral EBF Conditions Stakes, the first of this winter’s fast-track qualifiers for the championship finale – which is to be held back at Gosforth Park in April, following its switch from Lingfield.

Space Cowboy made all at 4-1 under Doyle – who was completing a double, having already won the Play Coral Racing-Super-Series For Free EBF Restricted Novice Stakes aboard Archie Watson’s Verona Star.

She was therefore also reaching the 150 milestone for the second successive year, doing so two months ahead of her 2020 schedule.

After seeing off Eldrickjones by half a length in the feature race, Doyle reflected briefly on her own achievement.

She told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s been a good year so far, really memorable. I hope I can continue the form.”

As for the winner, she added: “He’s a very strong horse – Richard’s done a great job with him, and we’ve always really liked him.

“I didn’t really want to make the running there – but no one else wanted to, so I kind of got left in front and did my own thing.

“He’s probably only worked for about a furlong and a half – and a few flicks, and he hit the line hard.

“That will probably be his last run for the year. He’s a really exciting horse for the yard next year.”

Spencer confirmed he has high hopes for the Rebel Racing-owned juvenile.

He said: “We were very pleased with Space Cowboy. He is a horse we hold in high regard, and it was great to see him step up from his maiden win last time out.

“He weighs 520 kilogrammes – and whatever he did this year was always going to be a bonus. He is a real three-year-old in the making, and a very exciting horse for next year.

“Finals Day is a nice option to have. It’s great that the final will be back at Newcastle, because it is such a fair track.

“We have had a lot of success at Newcastle, and our strike rate is good – Rajasinghe made his debut there before winning the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

“Myself and the owners will make a plan over the winter and work out where we want to go, but there’s great prize money on offer on Finals Day if we decide to go down that route.”

Trueshan brilliant in Long Distance Cup repeat

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Trueshan justified strong market support to record back-to-back victories in a rough race for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.

Winner of the Prix du Cadran just two weeks ago, Alan King’s five-year-old repeated last year’s success on home soil, with veteran stayer Stradivarius third.

His regular partner, Hollie Doyle, missed out on ParisLongchamp due to a riding ban with James Doyle deputising, but she was back in the saddle and took full advantage.

There was a muddling early pace with The Mediterranean settling down in front from Master Of Reality, with Trueshan in midfield and Stradivarius towards the rear.

While Frankie Dettori had to make his challenge wide on Stradivarius after a barging match with Baron Samedi, Doyle had Trueshan in a good position turning for home.

The evens favourite was harassed by Tashkhan, but his class prevailed and he asserted in the final furlong to beat the 50-1 outsider by a length and a half.

Stradivarius finally got a clear run, but his bid flattened out and he was two and a half lengths further away.

Trueshan was quoted at 4-1 favourite with Betfair for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next summer.

King said: “I haven’t been this nervous for a long time.

“I was just nervous because it was only two weeks (between runs). Dan (Horsford) was very happy with him at home, but he was quite a handful to saddle today and quite hot. I don’t think he was at his best, but we’ve got away with it.

“He had to be very, very tough today. Brian’s (Ellison) horse kept coming back at him and Stradivarius has run another marvellous race the old boy.

“Hollie has ridden him most of the way through and he is her ride. It was unfortunate she had to miss France through suspension. James did a great job, but he knew Hollie would be back on board today.

“Everyone is saying I’ve been too cautious with him, but the only time I’ve taken this horse out is when it’s been proper fast ground – here at the Royal meeting when the rain came a day late, it was very quick at York and so was Doncaster. I would run him on good ground, but I won’t run him on good to firm.

“Let’s hope we get a wet Royal Ascot next year. It would be lovely to run him in the Gold Cup. We’ll duck and dive and if he keeps doing as well as he is at the moment we’ll be very happy.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve won a Grade One over jumps, so it’s nice to win a few big races on the Flat.”

Doyle said: “It’s an amazing feeling and all credit to Alan and the owners for putting me back on.

“The pressure was really on today to deliver given the great ride James gave him in France, so I’m glad it went well.

“It was a bit of a nightmare really. He jumped nicely, I got a nice position early on and he switched off – but at halfway he came to life, put the brakes on and raced rather keenly, but that’s just the way he is.

“I could feel Frankie breathing down my neck five down and I was wider than I wanted to be turning in, but I had to make my move.

“He’s so brave, to back up like he’s done today it’s just amazing.

“We’ll dream again next year, when hopefully he’ll be a stronger horse.”

Stradivarius - beaten but unbowed
Stradivarius – beaten but unbowed (PA)

Of Stradivarius, John Gosden said: “He ran a great race considering the ground. He seems fine after the race and no decision will be made on next year until next week. In other words, we want to see how the horse is in the next few days at home and he will tell us how to play it.

“I think he is more of the Federer blend in a sense. He’s not blowing, but when you look at the tactics, today and in the Gold Cup, you see that other guys are riding the race for him.

“They do go finding him in a race. One day they box him in and the next day they push him out. You look at the Ascot Gold Cup and today and other guys are riding him. I don’t want to go any further than that.

“That (retirement or stay in training as an eight-year-old) is Bjorn’s (Nielsen, owner) decision, but I will tell him how the horse is. Funnily enough the horse is a very expressive character. He will tell us.

“Today it was a great run off a horrible trip.”

Dettori was not at all happy with the ride of Dylan Browne McMonagle aboard Baron Samedi, calling it “a disgrace”.

“It was a disgrace. The kid in front of me did everything possible to get me beat,” he said.

However, Baron Samedi’s trainer Joseph O’Brien felt McMonagle did nothing wrong and put up a strong defence of his riding.

“I thought Dylan gave my horse a fantastic ride. I thought he was very tactically aware, held his position when he had to and I thought he moved at the right point,” said O’Brien.

“He gave him a great ride. It’s not up to Dylan to ride anyone else’s horse. He does his own thing and gave my horse a fantastic ride and held his ground when he had to.”

Trueshan set to defend Long Distance Cup crown

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Alan King does not envisage the ground being too quick for Trueshan when he defends his Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup title at Ascot on Saturday.

The dual Group One winner has missed engagements at Royal Ascot and York’s Ebor meeting this season on account of unsuitable going.

But with the round course described as soft, good to soft in places on Wednesday morning and heavy dews maintaining the moisture in the ground, King is happy for him to take his chance.

“We didn’t do much for the first week or so (after winning the Prix du Cadran at the start of the month), but he had a little breeze this morning and I was very happy, so we look as if we’re on track for the weekend,” King told Sky Sports Racing.

“It’s only two weeks since he ran but there’s not much we can do about that. It’s going to be his last run of the season so I think we can roll the dice and hope for the best.

“There were a lot of times when we used to go Cheltenham and Aintree with only two weeks between them and got away with that. I would have preferred another week but we haven’t got that, so that’s where we are.

“I thought he was better in France than Goodwood. I was pleased with the way he settled because I was concerned about the extra half-mile that day, but he saw it out very well and travelled through the race like a class act.”

Regular partner Hollie Doyle missed the Prix du Cadran through suspension and was replaced by James Doyle, but gets back on board Trueshan this weekend.

“I think the ground will be fine. I’d run this horse on good ground but the twice we’ve taken him out, at Ascot and York, it was proper good to firm so it was an easy decision to make,” said King.

“It looks as if they will get a heavy dew every morning so it should be fine, I can’t see good to firm creeping in anyway.

“It was unfortunate Hollie couldn’t ride in France but James was a good substitute, within reason he’s Hollie’s ride.”

Doyle to miss Trueshan mount after suspension appeal fails

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Hollie Doyle will miss the ride on Trueshan in the Qatar Prix du Cadran after failing in her appeal against a seven-day suspension.

Stewards at Kempton imposed the ban – to run from this Friday, October 1 to the same day next week, October 8 – for careless riding on runner-up Mountain Ash in the second division of the racingtv.com Handicap on September 17.

Doyle’s appeal took place on Tuesday, and afterwards the British Horseracing Authority announced via Twitter that it had been unsuccessful.

She will therefore be unavailable on Saturday, when she faced a choice of possible big-race rides – on Alan King’s Goodwood Cup and Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup hero Trueshan in the Group One marathon at ParisLongchamp or on top sprinter Glen Shiel at Ascot.

The BHA’s Tweet on Tuesday afternoon read: “Following this morning’s hearing, Hollie Doyle’s appeal against the decision of the Kempton Park stewards, and subsequent penalty, has been unsuccessful.”

There is no Flat racing in Britain on Sunday – which means Doyle’s suspension lasts until the end of next week, and also that she could ride on day two of ParisLongchamp’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting.

Nazanin swoops late for Firth of Clyde prize

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Hollie Doyle and Nazanin claimed a last-gasp victory in the Virgin Bet Firth of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes at Ayr.

A field of 14 juvenile fillies went to post for the Group Three contest, with the Archie Watson-trained Nazanin a 16-1 shot after finishing a well-beaten eighth in last month’s Lowther Stakes at York.

Deep inside the final furlong, the main of the action took place on the far side of the track, with Canonized – turning out just 24 hours after finishing fifth in a Listed event at the Scottish track – locked in battle with Hala Hala Athmani and Irish raider Head Mistress.

But ploughing a lone furrow down the centre, Doyle and Nazanin finished with a flourish to get up and deny Canonized by a short head, with Hala Hala Athmani and Head Mistress close up in third and fourth respectively.

Doyle told ITV Racing: “She’s been taking steps forward. In the Lowther last time, the ground was very quick and I didn’t think she let herself down, but today I let her use herself and she’s got through that ground lovely.

“It’s just so good for Archie and the connections.

“She’s been highly tried on her last two runs, so it’s always a bit worrying, you don’t know if you’re overfacing them, but we’ve always known she’s got the ability. It’s excellent she’s done that today.”

Hollie Doyle relishing Leger chance with Interpretation

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Hollie Doyle has spoken of her delight at picking up the mount on Interpretation for Aidan O’Brien in the Cazoo St Leger – her first ride in the Doncaster Classic.

Doyle has linked up with Ireland’s champion trainer on a couple of occasions at York this year, finishing fourth in the Dante Stakes on Roman Empire and third in the Yorkshire Oaks on 150-1 chance La Joconde.

The record-breaking jockey has clearly impressed O’Brien, who has handed her the mount on the Galileo colt who has won his last three, including at Listed level last time out in the Vinnie Roe Stakes, where he beat Donnacha O’Brien’s Fernando Vichi, who reopposes.

Doyle said: “It’s a great ride to pick up. He looks highly progressive and is unbeaten this year.

Interpretation was a winner at Leopardstown earlier this season
Interpretation was a winner at Leopardstown earlier this season (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s certain to stay and has beaten Donnacha’s horse before.

“It’s my first ride in the Leger and I’m really looking forward to it.”

O’Brien also runs High Definition, Sir Lucan and The Mediterranean.

High Definition was an early Derby favourite but has endured a disappointing campaign so far, most recently finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Great Voltigeur at York – in which The Mediterranean was runner up, with Sir Lucan fourth.

Aidan O'Brien (right) and Frankie Dettori (second right) team up once again with High Definition
Aidan O’Brien (right) and Frankie Dettori (second right) team up once again with High Definition (John Walton/PA)

Frankie Dettori will ride High Definition, James Doyle has been booked for Sir Lucan and Wayne Lordan partners The Mediterranean.

Hot favourite Hurricane Lane heads a final field of 10.

Winner of the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris on his last two starts, the Charlie Appleby-trained Hurricane Lane is odds-on to make a successful transition to 14 furlongs in the final British Classic of the season on Saturday.

Ottoman Emperor will be seeking a fifth successive win for Johnny Murtagh, as he tries Group One company for the first time.

Ottoman Emperor represents Johnny Murtagh
Ottoman Emperor represents Johnny Murtagh (John Walton/PA)

He won a Cork maiden in April and has been on a rapid upwards trajectory since, landing a Gowran handicap in June before adding another win at Navan and successfully moving up to Group Three level to win the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood in July.

Derby runner-up Mojo Star has another shot at Classic glory, with Richard Hannon having sent him to Newbury last month for a confidence-boosting win in a 12-furlong maiden – the first victory of his five-race career.

Youth Spirit finished fourth behind Ottoman Emperor at Goodwood and third in the Voltigeur last time. He runs for Andrew Balding, who so nearly won the race last year when his Berkshire Rocco was beaten just a neck. Tom Marquand rides – having been aboard winner Galileo Chrome 12 months ago.

Voltigeur fifth Scope, who is trained by Ralph Beckett, completes the Leger line-up.

Romantic Time delivers big-race winner for William Stone

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Romantic Time found a dream run on the inside to give trainer William Stone his biggest success to date in the Group Three Ire Incentive Scheme Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.

The daughter of Time Test looked to have compromised her chance by being slowly away – but she recovered under a patient ride by Hollie Doyle to put herself into contention.

The step up to six furlongs for the first time suited Romantic Time, as the 28-1 outsider quickened in the final furlong to win by a length from Pearl Glory.

Stone, who is based at West Wickham in Cambridgeshire, said: “That was super. Hollie gave the horse a great ride.

“The step up to six was great and I think she was a bit unlucky last time (at Newbury). She got going a bit late and met a bit of trouble in running which didn’t help her.

“I don’t know what we’ll do now next because we came here not knowing if she’d stay six, so I couldn’t really look at anything for her until we got today out of the way. We’ll just look at different options and go from there.”

He added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to get my first Group winner. It’s brilliant.”

Chocoya (8-1) got up in the dying strides to snatch victory in the European Bloodstock News EBF ‘Lochsong’ Fillies’ Handicap.

Ryan Moore brought the Hugo Palmer-trained three-year-old to put in a strong finish and get the verdict by half a length from Crazy Luck.

It was her first time in a handicap after several attempts in Pattern races. Palmer is hoping the victory will give her confidence for when she steps back up in company.

“She did great. That was her handicap which is not bad with it coming towards the end of her three-year-old season,” he said.

“She’s got plenty of snow on the roof as far as black type is concerned, but none of the big stuff.

“We’ve been desperately trying to win a Listed race with her and she’s been running with credit most of the year without quite pulling it off. I’m hoping that will give her confidence.

“Ryan was very pleased with her. He felt she’ll win again and if she does she’ll be back close to 100 again and we will continue the search for black type.

“There are races on the all-weather at places like Deauville going into November and December, so that could be a possibility. She was a little bit outpaced over the ridges today. She did very well to stick to it and finish well.

“She’s always suggested that seven would be within her compass. She hasn’t conclusively proved she stays it, but she was only winning in the last 50 yards today.”

Oisin Murphy is closing in on a third jockeys' championship
Oisin Murphy is closing in on a third jockeys’ championship (John Walton/PA)

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy kept up his march towards a third title with a double on Outbreak and Neenee’s Choice.

Outbreak (evens favourite) confirmed the promise of his debut second in tremendous style to take the Byerley Stud Novice Stakes by five lengths from Point Lynas.

Neenee’s Choice (6-5 favourite) had no trouble stepping up from a mile to a mile and a quarter to take her winning run to three in the Molson Coors Handicap.

Andrew Balding’s filly made all over the mile and a quarter and kept pulling out more to score by a length and a half from Lady Reset.

Doyle and King take over at the top with Trueshan

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The Goodwood Cup has, in recent years, been a race whose title is always spoken alongside the name of just one horse – Stradivarius.

The beloved chestnut’s long-time rider, Frankie Dettori, is next in that sentence, and the ever-statesmanlike John Gosden surely follows.

Little had changed as the scene was set for the 2021 renewal of the race, if anything the aforementioned trio were absorbing more of the limelight than ever as they prepared to jointly bid for a record-breaking fifth success.

The record ripe for breaking was of course set by Stradivarius himself, who has dominated both the contest and the division throughout his unusually long career.

But then the rain came, heavy and relentless, and the limelight refocused on another of racing’s out and out stars – Hollie Doyle.

Trueshan pulling up after his Group One success
Trueshan pulling up after his Group One success (John Walton/PA)

Doyle was booked to ride Trueshan, the mud-loving stayer trained by Alan King, who is more readily associated with the National Hunt circuit having saddled 15 winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

The weather had left the ground not unlike a wet day at Prestbury Park, however, and that inspired punters to back Trueshan in their droves, as he ultimately returned as the 6-5 favourite, with Stradivarius a ground-enforced absentee.

The gelding ran exuberantly in the early stages of the two-mile affair, fighting with the diminutive Doyle and making matters harder that necessary when refusing to settle into the steady pace set by the race leaders.

Reluctant to be boxed in by the rail, Doyle cut forward to cruise in the slipstream of those ahead of her and masterfully eased the bay into the rhythm he had been opposing.

From there she was perfectly poised to throw down her challenge, taking up the lead with two furlongs left to travel and driving Trueshan across the line with his nearest rival three and three-quarters of a length behind him.

The second-placed horse, Ismail Mohammed’s Away He Goes, earned a smattering applause for his valiant run in defeat at written-off odds of 33-1, but Doyle was received by a sizeable Goodwood crowd like a favourite daughter on sports day.

Celebration time following Trueshan's success in the Goodwood Cup
Celebration time following Trueshan’s success in the Goodwood Cup (John Walton/PA)

King, who was leaving the glamour of Goodwood on Tuesday evening to search for new National Hunt performers, admitted the pre-race pressure had been intense.

“I’ve been very calm all morning and then suddenly when John took out Stradivarius we got shorter and shorter,” he said.

“The nerves really started to kick in, I haven’t been this nervous in a long time, I can tell you.”

Looking to further big days with his stable star, King said: “He is in the Lonsdale (Cup, at York) and he is in the Irish St Leger (at the Curragh). I will talk to the boys, but we will probably take him out in the morning at the forfeit stage.

“The Cadran (ParisLongchamp, on Arc weekend) will probably be his big target in the autumn.”

Doyle, whose calm, affable disposition never seems to waver, even found herself uncharacteristically anxious ahead of her ride.

“I never really feel pressure and I never get nervous, but today something did come over me as I didn’t want to let everyone down,” she said.

“I was very confident, but I haven’t had many Group One experiences, especially on a 10-11 odds-on shot, so I was feeling it a bit more than normal.”

Hollie Doyle following victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup
Hollie Doyle following victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (John Walton/PA)

Doyle claimed a first Group One success on Champions Day at Ascot in 2020, with Glen Shiel the hero in question as he took the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.

“When I got a taste of the success at Ascot on Glen Shiel, I got a bit more hungry and determined to want it more often,” she said.

A Goodwood Cup triumph seemed to invoke the same appetite for glory once again, as Doyle rolled on to a second success aboard Lord Riddiford in the Back To Goodwood Handicap, and a third when winning the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes with Sisters In The Sky.

“This is one of the best days I’ve ever had,” she said.

“I got some buzz off that, I don’t get too high or too low but when you get experiences like that, you’ve got to make the most of it haven’t you?

“It’s very special, I’ll still be smiling in the next, I’ll be smiling all week!”

Doyle deserves to smile, King deserves to smile, and the authors of the Goodwood script can smile too, for whilst it seemed the star of their cast was sorely missing, in this instance the understudy proved to be every bit as good.

Hollie Doyle stars with Goodwood hat-trick

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Hollie Doyle was the queen of Goodwood as she followed up her Group One triumph by completing a fine hat-trick with additional successes aboard Lord Riddiford and Sisters In The Sky.

It was on the last-named colt that she cemented the feat, producing the 13-2 chance to lead approaching the distance in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes and preserve a healthy lead to the line, scoring by a cosy but reduced length for trainer Roger Teal.

A jubilant Doyle said: “It’s been an amazing day and brilliant to win on this colt for Roger. He settled a lot better today, and after hitting a flat spot saw it out well. I just needed to give him one behind the saddle and he was away.”

Teal enthused: “Hollie had never ridden a winner for me before, but what a way to get off the mark. When we saw the bad forecast and the ground change we were worried, but decided to give it a punt. When you look at the form of this horse, it has worked out tremendously well.”

John Quinn dominated the Back To Goodwood Handicap when the Malton trainer sent out Doyle’s mount Lord Riddiford and El Astronaute to give him a one-two in the five-furlong sprint.

Just minutes on from her Goodwood Cup triumph on Trueshan, Doyle swooped to conquer on Lord Riddiford (13-2) who forged two and a half lengths clear of his stablemate, with Desert Safari and Sunday Sovereign a close-up third and fourth.

Lord Riddiford is owned by twin brothers James and Andrew Derry from Newark, whose love affair with Goodwood was sparked by the same horse.

James Derry explained: “Our first winner was this horse here at Goodwood three years ago. I’d been coming to the course for 35 years and dreamed of having a winner here.”

Quinn attributed the change in going as being a huge part of the grey’s success and observed: “The ground was very quick for him in Ireland last time, and the bit of ease today made a huge difference.”

Doyle said: “He’s a very good horse on his day and liked the conditions. He probably could have jumped better, and I had to work to keep him balanced and retain my position. But when we hit the rising ground he really picked up and shot clear.”

David Menuisier’s Migration was a ready winner of the opening Unibet “You’re On” Chesterfield Cup Handicap after throwing down a late challenge.

The five-year-old made light of the heavy ground and built on a promising seasonal debut to strike as 2-1 favourite under William Buick.

Leaving the stalls slowly and racing at the rear of the field for much of the contest, the gelding remained on the far rail as a small group broke off in search of better ground on the stands side and cut through his rivals to gain the lead with half a furlong remaining.

Driven out under Buick, the bay was an eventual two-length winner over Ed Walker’s Caradoc in second and Roger Fell’s Cockalorum a further length and three-quarters behind in third.

“I wasn’t worried, I’m absolutely delighted,” Menuisier said.

“I’ve run him over a mile but I really felt that a mile (and) two (furlongs) is his favourite trip, so it was just a matter of where.

“He should have run at Newmarket the other day but the ground, I felt, was too quick, so I ruled him out.

“He is very straightforward and he has a good turn of foot so he can get out of trouble, what he doesn’t like is having to do too much.

“About two furlongs out I was thinking ‘come on William’, but he probably felt that he had a massive tank underneath him.”

Anghaam (7-2) benefitted from a canny ride by Jim Crowley to make all in the fillies’ handicap, holding Zwelela by a comfortable length and a half.

Winning trainer Richard Hannon said: “It was a game effort, just like the way she won at Newmarket earlier in the season. She’s all heart.”

In a reduced field of only six, well-supported favourite Urban Violet could only manage fourth.

Buick then sealed an opening-day double when taking the World Pool EBF Fillies’ Handicap aboard Hugo Palmer’s Lovely Breeze.

The filly struck at 3-1 in the seven-furlong contest when racing furthest from the rail, crossing the line a length and three-quarters ahead of Rod Millman’s Crazy Luck.

Trueshan powers to Goodwood Cup glory

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Trueshan claimed Group One glory for Alan King and Hollie Doyle with a decisive success in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

A runaway winner on Champions Day at Ascot in October, the five-year-old made a promising start to the current campaign when runner-up to Japan at Chester in May before missing an intended appearance in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot due to unsuitable ground.

Trueshan instead contest the following week’s Northumberland Plate, where he was far from disgraced in finishing sixth under a huge weight, and everything fell perfectly into place for him on the Sussex Downs.

With the rain-softened ground leading to the withdrawal of four-time Goodwood Cup hero Stradivarius, King’s charge was the 6-5 favourite to provide his multiple Grade One-winning trainer with a first top-level success on the Flat.

Trueshan raced keenly for much of the two-mile journey, but moved to the lead early in the home straight and saw off the brave effort of the largely-unconsidered 33-1 shot Away He Goes by just under four lengths, giving a jubilant Doyle her second Group One win.

Doyle said: “It’s incredible. He’s been in my mind every day since Champions Day, when we could get back together – these are the days you do it for.

“He was pretty fresh early on, they were going no gallop and I expected there to be a bit of pace on and at halfway I thought ‘I’ve got to do something about this, I’m not getting trapped on the rail, they’re going to sprint finish’.

Trueshan in action at Goodwood
Trueshan in action at Goodwood (John Walton/PA)

“I managed to slide onto the girths of the leaders, he completely dropped the bridle with me and the further he went, the better. When I hit the rising ground, he went again.

“It’s a staying challenge and when I hit the rising ground he was gone again.

“He’s a superstar on this ground. I got some buzz off that – I don’t get too high or too low, but when you get experiences like that you’ve got to make the most of it.”

King is perhaps more renowned for winners at Cheltenham, but is becoming an increasingly potent force on the Flat.

He said: “It’s no better but it’s right up there with the Champion Hurdles and things, of course it is.

“All I want to do is train proper horses and I don’t mind whether they’re jumpers or not, I’m not giving up the jumping just yet!”

He went on: “We’re out of practice a bit, I haven’t been coming racing much over the past 18 months and I don’t think I’ve ever saddled this horse to win – I was nearly told to stay at home!

“He was just a little bit keen but he can be like that – thank God we went to Newcastle because if he’d come straight from Chester he’d have been ferocious today.

“I was glad he had a proper race there and we were able to let him down and then build him back up, a lot of people thought we were mad running him (at Newcastle) without a flat weight but he needed to go somewhere.”

Trainer Ismail Mohammed was thrilled with the effort of Away He Goes.

He said: “As we watched we thought he was going to win. We are very proud of him. Maybe we will head to France for a race one month from now that we had pencilled in.”

His rider Jim Crowley was equally pleased, saying: “He was travelling better than the winner who outstayed him on that ground. His form in Dubai was very good, so it was not a total surprise.”

Hollie Doyle gallops to 100th winner of the year

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Hollie Doyle chalked up her 100th win of 2021 as Oakenshield triumphed at Yarmouth on Wednesday evening.

The rider registered 151 winners in 2020, second to only Ben Curtis, in what was a curtailed campaign due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Doyle became the first rider this year to hit the century mark as the Linda Stubbs-trained Oakenshield prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the first division of the QuinnBet Handicap.

The Flat jockeys’ championship runs from May 1 to October 16, and Doyle currently sits in fourth, with reigning champion Oisin Murphy setting the pace.

She took her annual tally to 101 when she completed a double as Tom Ward’s 13-8 favourite Moonshiner won the closing race on the card, the QuinnCasino Handicap, by a head.

Doyle later posted a tweet, which read: “Over the moon to have hit 100 winners this year, massive thanks to all trainers, owners & connections for the support so far!”

Tiempo triumph seals Brighton double for Hollie Doyle

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Hollie Doyle was seen at her best when making all the running to give Arenas Del Tiempo a first career success at Brighton.

The Simon Dow-trained three-year-old may have been the 8-1 outsider of four but the daughter of Footstepsinthesand stuck to her task well to open her account at the seventh attempt.

Arenas Del Tiempo was keen in the early stages but she had enough left to shrug off the challenge of the 11-10 favourite Celestial Point and take the the Brighton Supports Racing Staff Week Handicap by two and a half lengths to complete a double for Doyle.

“That was very nice and wonderful for Robert Moss, her owner and breeder, because her dam Vezere was one of the first horses he ever owned,” said Dow.

“She was not a winner and he’s persisted breeding with her. She hasn’t had much luck up until this one, so it’s really nice Vezere has finally bred her first winner – a lovely filly by Footstepsinthesand and given a great ride by Hollie.

“It was tremendous and she’s so good with these horses who are a little bit keen. She gets them to settle and it worked out fantastic.”

Iva Reflection (10-1) got Doyle off to a flier when taking the Racing Staff Week 2021 Handicap.

Doyle always had the Linda Stubbs-trained four-year-old in a handy position and he quickened nicely to lead in the last 100 yards and score by three-quarters of a length from Winnetka.

Kartvelian appreciated the step up to a mile to register a second course success.

Kartvelian (right) gets up in the closing stages to win the Follow racingwelfare On Instagram Handicap
Kartvelian (right) gets up in the closing stages to win the Follow racingwelfare On Instagram Handicap (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Having opened her account over seven furlongs at the Sussex track two starts ago, the daughter of Tamayuz needed the extra distance to strike again in the Follow @racingwelfare On Instagram Handicap.

Trainer James Fanshawe thought the three-year-old could not win at one point, but was delighted by the way Kartvelian (15-2) responded to the urgings of 5lb-claiming apprentice Rhys Clutterbuck.

Hitting the front in the final half-furlong, Kartvelian crossed the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Almadrina.

“It was great because I thought we’d got no chance at the bottom of the hill and she picked up really well. I think she enjoys a bit of ease in the ground and stepping up in distance,” said Fanshawe.

“It was good for her owner Andrew Turner, who has been a long-term support. She’s just taken time to get things together but she’s improving and she’s coming on nicely.

“She’s in the (Tattersalls) sales next week but I’ll review things with her owner.”

Toofi (right) narrowly lands the spoils in the Racing With Pride Handicap
Toofi (right) narrowly lands the spoils in the Racing With Pride Handicap (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Toofi (11-1) won for only the second time in 52 starts when coming out on top following a terrific finish to the Racing With Pride Handicap.

The 10-year-old’s only previous success came at Newmarket in September 2013 when he was trained by Roger Varian.

With John Butler since the 2017 season, Toofi finally repaid the Newmarket handler with a game neck victory over Productive.

However, winning rider David Egan was banned for two days (July 13 and 14) for using his whip above the permitted level.

Glorious Journey strikes Criterion gold

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Glorious Journey went one better than two years ago when winning the Close Brothers Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

While trainer Charlie Appleby was at the Curragh overseeing the Irish Derby win of Hurricane Lane, the handler was also on the mark closer to home in the Group Three.

James Doyle gets a particularly good tune out of the six-year-old, who held off Motakhayyel by a length to win at 9-2.

“I love him to bits. He is a dude and he just turns up. I was a little bit concerned with the going being pretty quick, but he is moving better than ever and he floated going down to the start,” said Doyle.

“We’ve tried Group Ones before, but we are pretty realistic with him and he punches away solidly at Group Three level and he can produce a proper Group Two performance when it all goes well.”

Appleby and Doyle doubled up with Sayyida (6-5 favourite) in the Close Brothers Fillies’ Handicap.

Classic winner Logician was sent off the 5-6 favourite for the Close Brothers Fred Archer Stakes but could finish only second to Outbox.

Hollie Doyle was able to take up the running on Archie Watson’s Outbox some way from home but Rab Havlin appeared to have the move covered on Logician.

However, he could not get by the 6-1 winner and while he closed to within a length again at the line, Logician never looked like going by.

Outbox and Hollie Doyle had too much for Logician
Outbox and Hollie Doyle had too much for Logician (Mike Egerton/PA)

Charlie Turner, spokesman for the owners Hambleton Racing, said: “He has been solid all year and run some solid races and he deserved this Listed race today.

“After running him on soft ground at Ascot and Newbury, Hollie said he needed it a bit quicker. We were confident today even though we were up against Logician.

“He is a tough horse. I’m not sure where we are going to go from here. I was hoping we might look at the Ebor or something like that, but Archie will make that decision where he will go.”

For 2019 St Leger hero Logician, the future is less certain.

John Gosden, who trains the horse with son Thady, said: “He was desperately ill. His life was saved by the Newmarket Equine Hospital as he nearly died of peritonitis so it is probably slightly a miracle he has come back to racing. He won his comeback race last year then he lost his action at York in very heavy ground.

“We will consider what we want to do. That (retirement) is obviously a possibility. He has done nothing wrong here, but the old Logician would have won this for fun.

“He has come back and tried hard and I like the way he was closing at the end and I’ve no doubt (with) a little bit further he might have got there, but that is not the point. We will re-group on him.”

Doyle doubled up on Mark Johnston’s Mr Excellency (4-1) in the Close Brothers Handicap.

Richard Hannon’s maiden System caused a 22-1 upset in the Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies’ Stakes.

Second on her debut to a promising type in Alflaila, she took a huge leap forward to win the Listed contest, which featured several fillies who had run at Royal Ascot.

Two of those, Desert Dreamer and Cachet, were in the firing line deep inside the final furlong but System and Pat Dobbs flew home to win by a neck and three-quarters of a length.

Martin Hughes, joint-owner, said: “That was a pleasant surprise. She ran well at Salisbury behind what they think is a good one there. We thought we had a chance and the yard didn’t ignore it but the market did. I’m quite pleased with that outcome.

“She looks like she will get further as she finished well and was staying well. She is a lock away for three.”

Maureen Brittain’s husband, Clive, a former stalwart of Newmarket, was a rare visitor to present the trophies.

Hannon had already made it on to the scoreboard as Anghaam (5-2), a daughter of Guineas winners in Frankel and Natagora, showed a pleasing attitude in winning the Close Brothers Asset Finance Fillies’ Handicap.

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to winning owner Shadwell Estate Company, said: “She is a beautifully-bred filly.

“She is not short of speed as both her mother and father won a Guineas. She had a bit in hand there and there is more to come. ”

The Gosdens’ Inspiral was sent off 2-1 joint-favourite for the Close Brothers Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and showed a very smart turn of foot to win by a length and a half.

“She is a Frankel out of a filly that was second in a 1000 Guineas (Starscope) so she should stay a mile. I think for experience we will probably take another small step before going up in grade,” said Thady Gosden.