Coral Golden Mile |
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Heritage Handicap 15:00
Goodwood
£150,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus, 1m, Class 2  |
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Friday 29th July 2022 |
1 Orbaan 20/1
2 Blue For You 15/2
3 Revich 66/1
4 Ouzo 20/1
18 ran NR: Eilean Dubh, Montassib, Shelir
Distances: 3¼l, hd, hd Time: 1m 37.13s (slow by 0.03s)
Orbaan settled the mile event with a devastating turn of foot, leading home a one-two for North Yorkshire trainer David O’Meara in the prestigious handicap.
A regular in these events, Orbaan had not won since July 2020 but could hardly have broken his losing run in more impressive fashion. Given a patient ride around the inside, the seven-year-old shot clear in the blink of an eye, scoring by an emphatic three and a quarter lengths from stable-mate Blue For You. Revich was third, with front runner Ouzo holding on for fourth.
It proved an excellent outcome for winning jockey Jason Watson, who was initially set to partner non-runner Shelir.
O’Meara, who had five runners in the race, said: “Everybody knows this race is so draw dependent. We had three drawn wide and three drawn well. One of them we took out to save him for next week – he was a little bit off-colour this morning and drawn wide, a combination of a few things. But Orbaan – it’s been a long time since he last won. The last time he won he won like a Group horse in a handicap, but he hasn’t won since. He had a lovely run round and stayed on well.
“The longer this horse travels the better. He doesn’t breathe great. He wears a tongue tie and, if he is under pressure for a long time, he doesn’t sustain it. But running downhill and travelling behind with plenty of cover, it was the type of race that would suit him and it did.”
Watson said: “Orbaan has some ability. He hasn't won for a long time now, but his last win was off 100 at York. Normally he can get a bit sulky and carry it through the season, but every run this year has been brilliant and he came into today with a big chance.
“I was on David's other runner originally drawn in 22, but the draw was just too bad and with the ground we decided not to run. I had the pick of them and Dave wanted me to ride this fella. I am delighted he persuaded me to as this horse really deserved it.
“I haven't won at Glorious Goodwood since I was an apprentice. It is a hard track to ride and a tough place to have winners. I am very grateful to Dave and the team who have been very supportive to me the last 12 months. I'm just pleased I'm back on the big stage a little bit.”
Winning owner Jimmy Chua said: “That was unbelievable. I am in shock, I couldn't believe it. I was not going to run Orbaan because of the fast ground – he loves soft ground. However, the clerk put on a lot of water. He is a soft ground horse, but with fast ground we decided to take a chance.”
O’Meara’s assistant Jason Kelly said of the second: “Blue For You was all dressed up and had nowhere to go! When he has got space, he has knuckled down. He has been second on his last three starts now, but he can definitely get his head in front in a big race.
“He will probably go next to York for the Clipper Logistics Mile. He has run well at York on his last two runs. He is a horse with a lot of ability. He is still only a young horse, and that is only his fourth start for us.”
Revich’s trainer Richard Spencer said: “He ran a nice race at Epsom last time and has run another one there. He is thriving on his racing and enjoys life. If we could have a few more like him in the yard, it would be great. We are lucky with the horses we have got, but he is a little star and keeps turning up on the big days. He is in the Clipper Logistics at York. Whether we go there or what we do depends on how he comes out of this.”
Golden Mile (Heritage Handicap)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 2
18 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2) Orbaan 7 8-7 David O'Meara Jason Watson 20/1
2 (1) 3¼ Blue For You 4 8-13 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 15/2
3 (15) hd Revich 6 9-2 Richard Spencer Jason Hart 66/1
4 (7) hd Ouzo 6 9-0 Jamie Osborne Saffie Osborne 20/1
5 (4) hd Lawful Command 3 8-3 Brian Meehan George Rooke 9/1
6 (9) ½ Rebel Territory 4 9-4 Amanda Perrett Jim Crowley 10/1
7 (18) ½ Rhoscolyn 4 9-10 David O'Meara Harry Davies 33/1
8 (5) nk Young Fire 7 9-5 David O'Meara Sean Levey 66/1
9 (19) 1 Escobar 8 9-12 David O'Meara Frankie Dettori 28/1
10 (3) 1¼ Noble Dynasty 4 9-3 3ex Charlie Appleby William Buick 9/4F
11 (14) hd Fast Medicine 4 8-8 Peter Chapple-Hyam Callum Hutchinson 100/1
12 (17) ¾ Positive 5 9-11 Clive Cox Adam Kirby 33/1
13 (12) ¾ Austrian Theory 3 8-9 3ex Charlie & Mark Johnston Franny Norton 33/1
14 (13) 1¼ Saleymm 4 9-8 3ex Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle 10/1
15 (11) ½ The Turpinator 5 8-13 Tom Ward Ryan Moore 22/1
16 (21) nk Jimi Hendrix 3 8-7 3ex Ralph Beckett Rob Hornby 9/1
17 (10) shd Sinjaari 6 10-0 3ex Harry & Roger Charlton Kieran Shoemark 11/1
18 (20) 1¾ Shining Blue 4 9-6 Saeed bin Suroor Pat Cosgrave 12/1
NR 5 (22) Shelir 6 9-9 David O'Meara NON RUNNER
NR 10 (16) Montassib 4 9-3 William Haggas NON RUNNER
NR 16 (6) Eilean Dubh 4 8-13 3ex K R Burke NON RUNNER
