Glorious
Goodwood
2012 Stewards' Cup
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racing news /
Rex Imperator Reigns in Stewards' Cup
03/08/13
1 Rex Imperator 12/1
2 Ajjaadd 66/1
3 Burwaaz 25/1
4 Racy 16/1
NR: Harrison George (IRE)
27 ran Distances: 2¼l, ½l, ½l
TIME 1m 10.35s (slow by 0.85s)
Rex Imperator landed the 2013 renewal of the £100,000 Robins Farm Racing Stewards’ Cup, the six-furlong heritage handicap on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.
He was successful by two and a quarter lengths from 66/1 shot Ajjaadd.
Neil Callan, the winning rider, said: “This means a lot because a friend of mine and I found this horse for my sponsor and some friends to go the Dubai Carnival last year. He went out there and it just didn’t suit him – it was probably the heat or whatever – he has always had an issue with the gates – and he just melted out there.
“We literally had to bring him back to England and go back to basics with him. We sent him to William and, between him and Gary Witheford, they have done a magnificent job to get him relax and get him in the gates.
“I always knew that this horse was going to be good, that’s why we found him, and I am glad that he has won a big one.
“The race was perfect. He jumped smart and William told me to ride my own race. He told me to sit on him, wait for that last burst and use him late.
“I got a nice tow into it off Heaven’s Guest and he was running away at the two-pole – I was climbing over them and just had to wait a little bit longer. He has quickened like the Group horse which I thought he was.”
Maureen Haggas, trainer William Haggas’ wife and assistant, said: “This really has been a team effort because Gary Witheford had him for a month before he came to us and he has done a fantastic job on him. Neil actually bought him for the owner. Donovan, who rides him every day, has done a fantastic job. It’s a real team effort and I am thrilled to bits.
“Sadly, the owner George Turner couldn’t be here today because his plane broke down. Steve (Parkin) has a bit of the horse with George and a lot of people have put in a lot of time and effort with the horse.
“He had a terrible reputation when he came to us – he had played up in the winter out in Dubai – which is why he went to Gary for a whole month. He and Donovan have done a cracking job between them.”
Robins Farm Racing Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 2
27 ran
Going: Good
Position
|
Horse
Trainer |
Jockey
Weight |
Starting Price
Beaten Distance |
1
|
Rex Imperator
W J Haggas |
N Callan
9st 4lbs |
12 - 1
Winner |
2
|
Ajjaadd
T E Powell |
William Twiston-Davies
8st 12lbs |
66 - 1
2 1/4 lengths |
3
|
Burwaaz
E A L Dunlop |
P Hanagan
8st 11lbs |
25 - 1
1/2 length |
4
|
Racy
B Ellison |
Harry Bentley
8st 9lbs |
16 - 1
1/2 length |
5
|
Ninjago
R Hannon |
R Hughes
8st 13lbs |
8 - 1
Head |
6
|
Tropics
D K Ivory |
Jim Crowley
9st 6lbs |
9 - 2
Neck |
7
|
Louis The Pious
D O'Meara |
D Tudhope
9st 0lbs |
16 - 1
Neck |
8
|
Hawkeyethenoo
J S Goldie |
G Lee
9st 8lbs |
14 - 1
Neck |
9
|
Secret Witness
R Harris |
M Harley
8st 12lbs |
50 - 1
1/2 length |
10
|
Dinkum Diamond
H Candy |
Catherine Gannon
9st 3lbs |
16 - 1
Short Head |
11
|
Heaven's Guest
R A Fahey |
T Hamilton
8st 10lbs |
10 - 1
Nose |
12
|
Barnet Fair
R C Guest |
David Probert
8st 11lbs |
28 - 1
Neck |
13
|
Prodigality
R Harris |
T P Queally
9st 0lbs |
16 - 1
1 length |
14
|
Shropshire
C Hills |
R L Moore
9st 3lbs |
8 - 1
Head |
15
|
Hoof It
M W Easterby |
K Fallon
9st 12lbs |
14 - 1
1/2 length |
16
|
Dr Red Eye
S Dixon |
S De Sousa
8st 9lbs |
33 - 1
1 3/4 length |
17
|
Regal Parade
J M Bradley |
Matthew Lawson
9st 0lbs |
66 - 1
1/2 length |
18
|
Free Zone
B Smart |
R Ffrench
8st 12lbs |
66 - 1
Neck |
19
|
Humidor
George Baker |
P Cosgrave
9st 4lbs |
25 - 1
Neck |
20
|
York Glory
K A Ryan |
J P Spencer
9st 9lbs |
8 - 1
2 lengths |
21
|
Blaine
K A Ryan |
J Fanning
9st 0lbs |
33 - 1
1 1/4 length |
22
|
Polski Max
R A Fahey |
George Chaloner
8st 10lbs |
66 - 1
Neck |
23
|
Mac's Power
W J Musson |
William Buick
8st 9lbs |
40 - 1
1/2 length |
24
|
Whozthecat
D Carroll |
Luke Leadbitter
9st 1lbs |
33 - 1
Head |
25
|
Face The Problem
J A Osborne |
J Doyle
9st 1lbs |
25 - 1
1 1/4 length |
26
|
Pabusar
J A Osborne |
M Dwyer
8st 9lbs |
33 - 1
3/4 length |
27
|
Tiddliwinks
K A Ryan |
B Hughes
9st 7lbs |
50 - 1
3 1/2 lengths |
NonRunner
|
Harrison George
P J O'Gorman |
Rosie Jessop
8st 9lbs |
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ONE-HORSE YARD TAKES SECOND PLACE IN FAMOUS HANDICAP
Ted Powell’s Reigate yard may only house one racehorse, but it did him proud in today’s Robins Farm Racing Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood.
The Powell-trained Ajjaadd finished second to Rex Imperator, going down by two and a quarter lengths, but finishing half a length ahead of third-placed Burwaaz, trained by Ed Dunlop. Ajjaadd collected just over £16,000 in prize money, yet he cost owners Katy and Lol Pratt just £2,400 at Doncaster when sold by his breeders, Darley, in 2009. He has won nine races since.
Powell, whose horse was up with the pace under jockey William Twiston-Davies, said: “It was a pity the others weren’t fast enough to give us a lead. He’s so fast and I would have loved to have waited until the final furlong to make a challenge. He went too soon last time.”
Powell formerly worked with ex-trainer Jack O’Donoghue, who saddled Hello Mister to win the Portland Handicap in 1994 and 1995 as well as Nickel Coin, the last mare to win the Grand National back in 1951.
The Portland is now in Powell’s mind for Ajjaadd, for he said: “My plan is to win the Portland Handicap at Doncaster, but I’ll have to walk because it’s a long way to drive from my place!”
Twiston-Davies said: “He’s a different horse this year he’s improved so much. He won at Epsom and won well and the last time out he just wasn’t himself and sweated up – he needs a fast pace to run at and he didn’t get that today so I had to make the early running. The winner tracked me and when he went past my horse responded, but wasn’t quite good enough.”
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