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Glorious Goodwood 2013 |
Lee Westwood's Hoof It Handed Stewards' Cup Target after York Return 19/07/13
Hoof It, owned by leading golfer Lee Westwood and his agent Chubby Chandler, will bid for a repeat victory in the £100,000 Stewards' Cup on the fifth and final day of Glorious Goodwood, Saturday, August 3.
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Westwood is currently playing in the British Open, held at Muirfield, Scotland.
The Mick Easterby-trained six-year-old produced a devastating performance in the 2011 running of the famous six-furlong heritage handicap, shouldering a record weight of 10st to an impressive two and a half length success.
He continued in fine form that season, finishing an unlucky sixth in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes and a close third in the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup, but has only been seen three times since.
The son of Monsieur Bond didn't replicate his best form in two starts last term and, after two wind operations, returned from a 13-month absence in the Listed City Walls Stakes at York on July 13, coming home seventh of nine over five furlongs. He was beaten two and a half lengths after missing the break but kept on in the closing stages.
David Easterby, assistant to father Mick, revealed: "Hoof It has come out of York OK and will be going to Glorious Goodwood for the Stewards' Cup.
"He was ring-rusty at the weekend and will improve, but his wind was fine so I was happy with that.
"I still think he retains all of his ability. He had problems in his couple of runs last season, which he took a while to accept, but we have sorted it now, so the future looks rosy.
"He will be going in off 112 as the weights have already been released and carrying top-weight, but that won't bother him as he showed two years ago."
Hoof It, allocated 9st 12lb, tops the 121 remaining entries for the Stewards' Cup and if successful, will become the sixth dual winner and the first since Sky Diver annexed back-to-back renewals in 1967 and 1968.
Other notable contenders include last year's winner Hawkeyethenoo, trained in Scotland by Jim Goldie, Wokingham scorer York Glory and Dean Ivory's lightly-raced five-year-old Tropics.
About Glorious Goodwood
The five-day festival this year runs from Tuesday, July 30 until Saturday, August 3 and is certain to be the highlight of the season. It is the perfect place to enjoy everything that is British and sums up what summer should be. It is the place to be and be seen. The fashion is elegant and floaty, Goodwood heritage with a dash of panache. Ladies and Gentleman dress in the latest fashions and gather shade from their hats and Panamas.
The meeting, held at the most beautiful racecourse, has always attracted the very best performers from the international world of horseracing such as Frankel, who graced the Downs for the last two years to the delight of racegoers who come from far and wide to experience the unique atmosphere.
