Tag Archive for: Pat Cosgrave

Get It makes all to claim Stewards’ Cup glory

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Get It produced a superb front-running display to claim a surprise victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

Following a winter campaign in Bahrain, George Baker’s sprinter made a fine start back in Britain with back-to-back wins at Windsor and Epsom, but was well held on his most recent outing at Ascot.

As a result, the six-year-old was a 40-1 shot for one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season on the Sussex Downs, but he roared back to form in some style in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.

Drawn highest of all in stall 28, Get It was smartly out of the stalls and blazed a trail against the stands’ rail for the duration of the six-furlong contest.

There were plenty still in with a chance entering the final furlong, with horses spread across the track, but Get It stuck to his guns to claim the first prize of almost £129,000 by half a length.

Apollo One picked up the silver medal in second, with the well-fancied Billyjoh third and Mostabshir in fourth. The 9-2 favourite Purosangue was well beaten.

“It’s an old cliche but I couldn’t believe what price he was this morning. Forget about his last run, he hates Ascot – it was a £100,00 race but we shouldn’t have gone for it, as five furlongs doesn’t suit a front-runner,” said Cosgrave.

“He won well at Epsom and I love it when we get drawn on the fence because he likes to jump and get over for a furlong, and then you can ride him after that. I’m not saying that I thought he would win today, but I didn’t think that he was a 40-1 shot.

“It’s tough in the UK because there are a lot of good jockeys, but I am riding for some really good people this year and it’s going along nicely.

“It’s a nice handicap today, but back to work tomorrow. It’s great for George, who’s very enthusiastic about the game.”

Pat Cosgrave celebrates after winning the Stewards' Cup on Get It
Pat Cosgrave celebrates after winning the Stewards’ Cup on Get It (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Baker said: “Being a Sussex man, I’ve been coming to this race since I was five, six, seven – and I watched it for many years before I became a racehorse trainer, so to go and win this race on my doorstep means a huge amount. It really does tick a massive box for me.

“It’s a massive team of wonderful owners and we’ve had a lot of fun with this horse in Bahrain, but I think this party might go on a little bit longer!

“I’ve got local friends here. We’ve got a house full for a week, it’s been a long week, having a party that started on Tuesday and probably won’t end until next Tuesday! It’s magical.

“I couldn’t believe how well he was going. I was delighted we drew that draw. He came out second out of the hat and Pat and I talked about it. Look, it was pretty simple.

“I kept looking around and thinking something is going to come, because you don’t expect to win the Stewards’ Cup, but I’ve just won the Stewards’ Cup!”

Part-owner Mark Tracey added: “We’ve come to Goodwood for 31 years racing horses and we’ve never had a ‘Glorious’ winner. It’s a fantastic feeling. He’s won in Bahrain, he’s won in the Racing League, and he’s now won the Stewards’ Cup!”



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Pat Cosgrave leaves UK for new career in Saudi Arabia

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Pat Cosgrave has left the UK to embark on a new challenge and will now call Saudi Arabia home as he continues his riding career oversees.

The 41-year-old, who was champion apprentice in Ireland in 2003, has won  Group One contests in Germany, Australia and the UK and has ridden over 100 winners for trainers Jim Boyle, William Haggas and George Baker in his career.

He is also no stranger to success further afield and liked up with Saeed bin Suroor to win the UAE 1000 Guineas in 2020 and was also aboard the Godolphin handler’s Gifts Of Gold on Saudi Cup Night in 2021 when the duo landed the valuable Red Sea Turf Handicap.

Cosgrave has now been handed the chance to become retained rider for 2022 Saudi Cup-winning owner Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz’s, an opportunity he has jumped at.

He said: “I’d only been back from Dubai (back in March) for a couple of weeks and was approached by Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz’s team about the opportunity.

“I knew how successful their operation was over there, particularly given they won the Saudi Cup back in 2022 with Emblem Road, but it was a tricky time to make a decision as racing was just getting going again in the UK.

“I thought about it for a little while and decided it was a good thing to do. The racing, as well as other sports in Saudi, seem to be getting bigger and better every year and it’s an exciting time to be getting involved.”

Cosgrave hit the headlines earlier in the year when he received a 28-day ban for easing up on 1-6 favourite Concorde in the final stages of a mile handicap at Chelmsford.

He added: “I have been going along OK in the UK. There were a couple of silly incidents that put me on the sidelines for a bit, but overall I was doing well, winning some decent handicaps and operating at a good strike rate.

“I was riding winners for the likes of George Boughey, Richard Hughes, George Baker and Jim Boyle, so things were going OK, and they were looking after me well, but it feels like the racing in Saudi is really progressing and I think it’s a great opportunity to take.”

Cosgrave is not the only member of the weighing room on the move, with Andrea Atzeni having been granted a part-season licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Atzeni’s licence in the far east runs from July 17 until February 12 next year and he is expected to be in Hong Kong for the start of the new season at Sha Tin on September 10.

The Classic winning rider said on his twitter account: “Looking forward to my new challenge!”



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