Glorious Goodwood

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Spirit Provides More Than Fleeting Flat Interest For Stewart
31/07/07

1st 11 Fleeting Spirit 8/1
2nd 6 Kingsgate Native 4/1
3rd 1 Captain Gerrard 11/2

Leading jump owner Andy Stewart enjoyed a high-profile Flat success when the Jeremy Noseda-trained Fleeting Spirit maintained her unbeaten record to land the Betfair Molecomb Stakes by a neck from Kingsgate Native.

“This filly sadly got an infection a week before Ascot so couldn’t run there - we had been planning to go for the Windsor Castle,” said Noseda. “Then we thought about races at Sandown and Chester but the ground went against her so we waited for the Molecomb and I’m delighted we came here.

“It’s a good performance for the second race of her life and the Flying Childer’s probably the only race she can go for and so we might be forced to give her a try over six furlongs.”

Stewart is part of The Searchers, a four-strong ownership syndicate also including British Horseracing Authority chairman Paul Roy, Trevor Harris and Martin Myers.

“We’ve got four horses, three from the breeze-ups and one that John Warren bought as a yearling. Lemon N Sugar runs here in a maiden on Thursday and Strike The Deal is going for the Richmond Stakes on Friday. I’ll be here for the two races but I’m going to Galway tomorrow to watch Hoo La Baloo in the Galway Plate,” said Stewart.

“I’m enjoying this Flat racing and have been all over the place to Maisons-Laffitte, Royal Ascot, Lingfield and Nottingham.

“When Paul (Roy) had his 60th birthday he had Lionel Richie playing and The Searchers. That’s how the syndicate got its name and Paul went to university in Liverpool, where they are from.”

PRINCE AND GERRARD PLEASE CONNECTIONS

Connections of Kingsgate Prince and Captain Gerrard were both pleased after the £50,000 Betfair Molecomb Stakes.

Kingsgate Prince looked to have the race in the bag before being overhauled by Fleeting Spirit to go down by a neck in second place. This was only the second run of the Mujadil colt’s career after he had previously finished runner-up in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trainer John Best said: “He has run a stormer, it’s just a bit frustrating.

“I thought we were home and hosed half a furlong out, but I think we might have come up against a good one.

“He is still in the Gimcrack, but I think we will be looking more at the Flying Childers and Cornwallis Stakes with him.

“He is a good horse and should also stay six furlongs, as he relaxes so well.

“He only cost 20,000 guineas so I suppose I could still run him in a maiden auction race somewhere!”

A further two and a half lengths back in third was Captain Gerrard and his owner Reg Bond said: “That was a nice run, very pleasing.

“The ground has probably just dried up a bit too much for him and he has hung away from the rails towards the other horses, as two-year-olds can do. This let the winner through.

“This horse is very professional. He could run again on Saturday if there was a suitable race, he’s that sort of horse. I really couldn’t see us being out of the first three today.

“I will leave it to Bryan where we go next, although I would think the Flying Childers would be an option.

“There is a big race in this horse.”

4.00pm BETFAIR MOLECOMB STAKES
Class 1, Group 3, £50,000 guaranteed, 5f, for 2-y-o; Weights: colts and geldings 9st; fillies 8st 11lb; Penalties: a winner of a Group 3 race 3lb; of a Group 1 or 2 race 5lb; Entries: 18 pay £300; Penalty value 1st: £28,390; 2nd: £10,760; 3rd: £5,385; 4th: £2,685; 5th: £1,345; 6th: £675

1 FLEETING SPIRIT (The Searchers) Jeremy Noseda 2-8-11 Johnny Murtagh [2] 8/1
2 KINGSGATE NATIVE (John Mayne) John Best 2-9-00 George Baker [11] 4/1
3 CAPTAIN GERRARD (Reg Bond) Bryan Smart 2-9-00 Royston Ffrench [1] 11/2
4 STARLIT SANDS (Kirsten Rausing) Sir Mark Prescott 2-8-11 Seb Sanders [9] 5/2F
5 LITTLEMISSSUNSHINE (Albert Conneally) Stan Moore 2-8-11 John Egan [6]
6 SPIRIT OF SHARJAH (A Dee) Julia Feilden 2-9-00 Jimmy Fortune [15]
7 IMPERIAL MINT (David Fravigar, Kathy Dixon) Kevin Ryan 2-9-00 Daragh O'Donohoe [8]
8 MAJOR EAZY (The Comic Strip Heroes) Brian Meehan 2-9-00 Steve Drowne [7]
9 HOBSON (Anthony Pye-Jeary And Mel Smith) Eve Johnson Houghton 2-9-00 Stephen Carson [4]
10 CAKE (Simon Leech & Des Anderson) Richard Hannon 2-8-11 Richard Hughes [12]
11 TIA MIA (Dachel Stud) James Given 2-8-11 Tom Queally [16]
12 PERFECT PAULA (Gold Group International Ltd, Roldvale Ltd) Brian Meehan 2-8-11 Kerrin McEvoy [14]
13 AIDE MEMOIR (Jeff Smith) Sylvester Kirk 2-8-11 Martin Dwyer [10]
14 ONLY IN JEST (Paul Thorman) Bill Turner 2-8-11 Tolley Dean [3]
15 ENODOC (Mrs D Edginton) William Muir 2-9-00 Eddie Ahern [5]
16 CARLETON (Capital) Mick Channon 2-9-00 Darryll Holland [13]

16 ran
Time: 57.96s
Unplaced favourite: 5/2 Starlit Sands
Distances: nk, 2½, 1 3/4, 3/4, 1, 3/4, 1 3/4, 1½, hd, 1 1/4, 1, 3/4, 2, nk, hd
Breeder: Bernadette Hayden
Breeding: b f Invincible Spirit (IRE) - Millennium Tale (FR) (Distant Relative)
Totes: Win £9.00; Places £2.80, £2.10, £2.50; Exacta £50.20

Winning trainer:- Name: Noseda, Jeremy James Date of birth: 17/9/63 Trains at Shalfleet, Bury Road, Newmarket Other details: Served as assistant trainer with John Dunlop (6 years), John Gosden (5 years) and Godolphin (2 years). Trained for a while in America before returning to Britain. Horses in training (1998-2007): 48: 78: 66: 70: 71: 67: 81: 91: 114; 117 Wins in a season (1997-2006): 0,18,39,40,37,43,37,34, 47; 46 Wins in 2007: 30 British Classic Wins: (1) Ladbrokes St Leger (2006 Sixties Icon) Major wins: Irish 2000 Guineas (2006 Araafa); Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (2004 Wilko), Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes (1998 Wannabe Grand - Noseda’s first Group race win in Britain - 2006 Sander Camillo); Cheveley Park Stakes (1998 Wannabe Grand, 2003 Carry On Katie) Nell Gwyn (2001 Lil’s Jessy), Princess Margaret Stakes (2001 Leggy Lou), Lupe Stakes (2002 Mellow Park), Lancashire Oaks (2002 Mellow Park), Musidora Stakes (2003 Cassis), Challenge Stakes (2003 Just James), Gimcrack Stakes (2003 Balmont), Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile (2006 Simply Perfect), Middle Park Stakes (2003 Balmont), Musidora Stakes (2000 Kalypso Katie), Sussex Stakes (2005 Proclamation), Jockey Club Stakes (2007 Sixties Icon) Royal Ascot Wins (7): Jersey Stakes (2002 Just James, 2005 Proclamation), Norfolk Stakes (2004 Blue Dakota), Albany Stakes (2005 La Chunga, 2006 Sander Camillo), St James’s Palace Stakes (2006 Araafa), Golden Jubilee Stakes (2007 Soldier’s Tale) First Goodwood winner: Blushing Bride (ROA Auction Stakes, September 20, 2000) Total Goodwood wins: 12 (4 at July Meeting)

Winning jockey:-Name: Murtagh, John Patrick Based: Moattown, Kildalkey, Co Meath and Newmarket Born: May 14, 1970 First Winner: Chicago Style, Limerick, July 6, 1987 British Classic Wins (4): Vodafone Derby (2000 Sinndar, 2002 High Chaparral, 2005 Motivator), 2000 Guineas (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar) Big Race Wins include: Ascot Gold Cup (1999 Enzeli, 2001 & 2002 Royal Rebel); Beverly D Stakes (1996 Timarida), Breeders’ Cup Mile (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Coronation Stakes (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Darley July Cup (2004 Frizzante), Dubai Champion Stakes (2000 Kalanisi), Falmouth Stakes (2004 & 2005 Soviet Song), Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (2000 Greek Dance), Irish Oaks (1997 Ebadiyla, 1998 Winona, 2000 Petrushka), Irish Champion Stakes (1996 Timarida), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2001 Black Minnaloushe), Irish Derby (2000 Sinndar, 2003 Alamshar), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (2003 Alamshar), Moyglare Stud Stakes (1998 Edabiya), National Stakes (1993 Manntari, 1999 Sinndar), Prix de l’Abbaye (2000 Namid), Prix de l’Opera (1995 Timarida, 2000 Petrushka), Prix Niel (2000 Sinndar), Prix du Moulin (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2000 Sinndar), Racing Post Trophy (2000 Dilshaan), Sussex Stakes (2004 Soviet Song), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2007 Notnowcato), Yorkshire Oaks (1996 Key Change, 2000 Petrushka); Diadem Stakes (1998 Bianconi, 2001 Nice One Clare, 2005 Baron’s Pit) Other details: Champion Irish apprentice in 1989, champion jockey in Ireland 1995 and 1998, has also been champion in Dubai Wins in Britain 1999-2006: 9; 17; 10; 15; 12; 77; 48; 0 Wins in Britain 2007: 9 First Goodwood Winner: No Excuse Needed (Champagne Victor Vintage Stakes, August 2, 2000) Total Goodwood Wins: 13 (7 at July Meeting)