Glorious Goodwood

racing news/

Game, Set and Match for Charlton in totesport Mile
01/08/08

1st 17 Fifteen Love 5/1 2F
2nd 16 Masaalek 4/1
3rd 6 Dubai's Touch 8/1
4th 20 Cape Hawk 8/1
Non Runners 8 Gold Sovereign 19 Unshakable

Roger Charlton was delighted with Fifteen Love’s performance in landing the feature race on day four of Glorious Goodwood, the totesport Mile Heritage Handicap. It was the trainer’s second successive victory in the race, following on from Third Set last year.

From stall 20, the three-year-old was settled towards the inside in mid-division by Steve Drowne and looked in trouble three out when trapped along the rail. However, Drowne switched him off the rail and duly got a break to burst through and take the lead half a furlong from home.

The son of Point Given battled tenaciously to the line, holding off the challenges of market rival Masaalek and Dubai’s Touch, who were drawn in 19 and 18 respectively, highlighting the effect of the draw in this £150,000 contest.

“It’s a good follow-up from Third Set to have Fifteen Love win. John Liver, who owns Third Set, just texted me saying ‘I’ve now had 20 text messages saying well done on your winner, why didn’t you tell us about it’ because they thought it was his horse!

“I have to watch it again but Steve said that Fifteen Love didn’t have a very hard race actually. He said he was very relaxed in behind and that he was a little worried being trapped in behind Hughsey (Richard Hughes). Eventually, when the gaps weren’t coming so he had to switch around.

“I haven’t really seen it on telly properly or the head but he thought that he only given him a couple of smacks to go there and win. Richard Hughes said on his way in that he did well to win off such a fast pace. I don’t know whether it was a fast time, but they obviously went a right good clip. He always had a good position but it’s just to get the luck to come around.

“I don’t know where he’ll go now. He’s done nothing but improve but it’ll be quite hard to win another handicap so we might be looking at Listed or Group races. I need to try to convince the owner to keep the horse in England as long as possible. I should think that ultimately the horse will go to America.

“I think he could go further. I haven’t asked Steve, but I’ve always thought that he’s very relaxed and he probably would.

“Steve did really well. He was in a great position. I was a bit concerned before the race that he might miss the break, which he did at Royal Ascot. The plan wasn’t to be at the back at Royal Ascot. Luckily, he got a good break, a good position, a good ride and won.”

Fifteen Love was declared to run on Tuesday in yesterday’s £1,000 Marjorie & Bernard Benham Emerald Anniversary Heritage Handicap but was taken out of the race.

Interviewed on Channel 4, Charlton said: “I never said (he did not run yesterday because of ) unsuitable ground. I noticed in the press that it said unsuitable ground but it was not uttered by me, anyone in my office or anyone else. Somebody made that up.

“What you can do now is you can double declare a horse and you get fined £140 for not running in the previous race and the reason I did it was because of the weather forecast. This horse is a fast ground horse.

“This week the forecast has been very unsettled and you know what happens at Goodwood, you can get a thunderstorm. If there had been a weather forecast of heavy thunderstorms yesterday morning, today’s race would have been run on soft ground and I would have run him yesterday.”

Drowne added: “We were drawn on the rail and I thought I was probably following the right horse. In the end, he didn’t take me far enough so I’ve had to come out. But I’d rather be drawn high and hope for a bit of luck than be drawn wide and give ground away.

“The thing is at Goodwood, if you’ve a horse who quickens, the gaps appear and you can get in there before it closes. When your on a one-paced horse, things don’t happen for you. He done everything right and is a handy little horse. He settled so well and I was happy to send him asleep.

“He probably would go further. The only thing that would worry me is that he has got a turn of foot and travels quite nicely. I think the most important thing with him is fast ground, even though he’s won on soft. He has plenty of class and helps you out. He has all of the right credentials.”

NO EXCUSES FOR BEATEN FAVOURITE

The Marcus Tregoning-trained Masaalek was unable to justify 4/1 favouritism in the totesport Mile as he came home a head second to 5/1 second favourite Fifteen Love in a pulsating finish to the competitive heritage handicap.

Masaalek had filled the same berth, half a length behind his rival, in the Britannia Handicap over the same distance at Royal Ascot in June, prior to reversing the form when the pair were third and fifth in the toteswinger Stakes at Sandown.

Tregoning commented: “It was close but he’s run a great race again, it was very similar to his Ascot run.

“He got first run on the winner and the winner had to extricate himself, so the top and bottom of it is that he was probably beaten by a slightly better horse. The winner and us both had to make the same manoeuvre so there are no hard luck stories.”

Dubai’s Touch had the lead at the distance but was passed by the front two before battling on to hold third, a further length away.

The Mark Johnston-trained Dr Fong colt was bouncing back to form after disappointing in a Doncaster conditions race last time. The 8/1 chance had previously split Masaalek and Fifteen Love when fourth at Sandown.

Johnston said: “I don’t know what happened at Doncaster, that was out of character and he’s bang back to form. We’ll look at more of the same - he’s a much better horse when the ground is fast.”

The Richard Hannon-trained Cape Hawk, also an 8/1 chance, took fourth, as the first four home - drawn 20, 19,18 and 17 respectively - represented the front four in the betting.

3.30pm totesport MILE (HERITAGE HANDICAP)
Class 2, Heritage Handicap, £150,000 guaranteed. For 3yo+, 1m. Weights: highest weight not less than 9st 10lb; minimum weight 7st 12lb. Penalties: after July 5, a winner 3lb; a winner of 2 races 5lb. Weight for age: 3yo from 4yo+ 7lb. Illustrious Blue’s Handicap Mark: 105. Penalty Values: 1st: £93,465; 2nd: £27,990; 3rd: £13,995; 4th: £7,005; 5th: £3,495; 6th: £1,755

1) FIFTEEN LOVE (Khalid Abdulla) Roger Charlton p3-8-12 Steve Drowne [20] 5/1
2) MASAALEK (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Marcus Tregoning 3-8-12 Richard Hills [19] 4/1 Fav
3) DUBAI'S TOUCH (Salem Suhail) Mark Johnston 4-9-05 Royston Ffrench [18] 8/1
4) CAPE HAWK (Thurloe Thoroughbreds XVII) Richard Hannon 4-8-09 Richard Hughes [17] 8/1
5) HUZZAH (J Gale, J Finch, D Cole, R Dollar, D Powell) Barry Hills 3-8-11 Michael Hills [16]
6) VITZNAU (Louis Stadler) Richard Hannon 4-9-05 Jimmy Fortune [9]
7) ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE (Mr & Mrs I H Bendelow) William Knight v5-9-10 Paul Doe [14]
8) FISHFORCOMPLIMENTS (Mel Roberts & Nicola Meese) Richard Fahey 4-9-00 Jimmy Quinn [13]
9) FLIPANDO (Mrs J Hazell) David Barron 7-8-12 Francis Norton [11]
10) REGAL PARADE (Dab Hand Racing) David Nicholls 4-9-02 Adrian Nicholls [8]
11) EXTRATERRESTRIAL (G J Paver) Richard Fahey 4-8-12 Paul Hanagan [7]
12) MILITARY CROSS (R Thompson & A Bengough) Luca Cumani 5-9-06 Seb Sanders [5]
13) ROYAL POWER (David Nicholls) David Nicholls 5-9-03 Tadgh O’Shea [1]
14) BALLINTENI (David Cohen) Gay Kelleway 6-8-12 Christophe Lemaire [10]
15) RAPTOR (Mark Gittins) Karl Burke 5-9-05 Fergus Sweeney [4]
16) DHAULAR DHAR (Middleham Park Racing XIV) Jim Goldie 6-9-04 Daniel Tudhope [3]
17) PRIDE OF NATION (Gary & Linnet Woodward) John Hills t6-9-09 Eddie Ahern [12]
18) LANG SHINING (Ballymacoll Stud) Sir Michael Stoute 4-9-05 Ryan Moore [6]

18 ran Non-Runners: Gold Sovereign, Unshakable
Time: 1m 38.15s Distances: hd, 1, 1¾, nk, nk, 1, ¾, ¾, ¾, 1, 1, 2½, 1¼, 1¼, 2¾, nk, 2¾
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Inc Breeding: b or br c Point Given (USA) - Nidd (USA) (Known Fact (USA))
Tote Win: £6.00 Places: £1.70; £1.80; £2.00; £1.90 Exacta: £14.40

Winning trainer:-Name Charlton, Roger John Born: Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, 18/1/50 First winner: Deploy (Haydock, April 14, 1990) Date of first licence:1990 Trains at Beckhampton, Marlborough, Wiltshire Previous Occupation: Amateur rider (three wins including 1969 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase on Pride Of Kentucky), worked for Colin Davies, stockbroker, 1975-77 ran equine swimming pool in Lambourn, 1978-89 assistant to Jeremy Tree British Classic wins: (1) Vodafone Derby (1990 Quest For Fame) Other major wins include: Cambridgeshire (2005 Blue Monday), Criterion Stakes (1993 Inchinor), Dante Stakes (1990 Sanglamore), French Derby (1990 Sanglamore), Greenham Stakes (1993 Inchinor), Hungerford Stakes (1993 Inchinor), John Porter Stakes (1996 Spout), Lancashire Oaks (1996 Spout), Lingfield Derby Trial (1996 Mystic Knight), Palace House Stakes (2005 Avonbridge), Prix de l’Opera (1994 Andromaque), Prix d’Ispahan (1991 Sanglamore), Prix de l’Abbaye (2003 Patavellian, 2005 Avonbridge), Rockfel Stakes (2002 Luvah Girl), Sandown Mile (1997 Wixim), Scottish Classic (1995 Baron Ferdinand), Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup (1998 Tamarisk), totesport.com International Stakes (2007 Third Set), Vodafone Stewards’ Cup (1999 Harmonic Way, 2003 Patavellian), totesport Mile (2007 Third Set) Royal Ascot wins (7): King George V Handicap (1992 Source Of Light), Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (1993 Source Of Light), Wokingham Handicap (2000 Harmonic Way), Golden Jubilee Stakes (2001 Harmonic Way), Coventry Stakes (2003 Three Valleys), Balmoral Handicap (2003 Deportivo), Britannia Handicap (2008 Love Fifteen) First Royal Ascot winner: King George V Handicap (June 18, 1992 Source Of Light First Goodwood winner: Kawtuban (Leslie & Godwin Spitfire Stakes, August 3, 1990) Total Goodwood wins: 35 (12 at Festival Meeting) Number of horses in training (1990-2008): 73; 73; 70; 79; 93; 109; 104; 110; 96; 70; 75; 84; 76; 91; 105; 97; 100; 96; 101; Wins in a season (1990-2007): 37; 26; 43; 47; 48; 42; 52; 40; 22; 30; 34; 33; 56; 57; 36; 43; 37; 39 Wins in 2008: 19

Winning jockey:-Name: Drowne, Steven Born: December 10, 1971 Based at Hungerford, Berkshire. Previously tutored at the British Racing School, a short period with Chuck Spares, and two years apiece with Richard Holder and Ron Hodges. First Winner: Sigwell’s Gold, Chepstow September 15, 1990 Race Wins Include: Cambridgeshire (2005, Blue Monday), Cheveley Park Stakes (Queen’s Logic 2001); Coventry Stakes (CD Europe 2000); Darley Stakes (2004 Autumn Glory); Fred Darling Stakes (Queen’s Logic 2002); Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (2006 Blue Monday); Golden Jubilee Stakes (Harmonic Way 2001); La Coupe (2006 Blue Monday); Lowther Stakes (Queen’s Logic 2001); Maurice Lacroix-Trophy (2002 Checkit); Mill Reef Stakes (2002 Zafeen); Moyglare Stud Stakes (2002 Mail The Desert (first win in Ireland); Ormonde Stakes (2006 The Whistling Teal); Palace House Stakes (2005 Avonbridge); Prix de l’Abbaye (2003 Patavellian, 2005 Avonbridge); Queen Mary Stakes (Queen’s Logic 2001); William Hill Trophy (2006 Prince Tamino); Zetland Gold Cup (2005 Blue Monday) First Royal Ascot Win: June 17, 1997, Ascot Stakes Handicap, Sea Freedom Royal Ascot Wins (10): Ascot Stakes (Sea Freedom 1997); Coventry Stakes (CD Europe 2000); Golden Jubilee Stakes (Harmonic Way 2001); Queen Mary Stakes (Queen’s Logic 2001), Albany Stakes (2003 Silca’s Gift), Windsor Castle Stakes (2003 Holborn, 2008 Flashmans Papers), King George V Handicap (2007 Heron Bay), Britannia Handicap (2008 Third Set), Wolferton Handicap (2008 Suoaseus) First Goodwood winner: Prince Rooney (Celer Et Audax Stakes, June 4, 1993) Goodwood winners: 35 (7 at July Meeting) Winners (1995-2007): 25; 43; 57; 25; 36; 36; 80; 104; 108; 99; 90; 83; 82 Wins in 2008: 43