John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes |
|
Group 3, Goodwood 15:00
£200,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 3f 218y, Class 1  |
|
Thursday 28th July 2022 |
1 New London 6/4F
2
Deauville Legend 14/1
3
Hoo Ya Mal 6/1
10 ran Distances: 1¾l, nk, 2¾l
Time: 2m 33.80s (fast by 1.30s)
New London shot to the head of the ante-post market for the
G1 St Leger after grinding out success over a mile and a half here.
The son of
Dubawi was recording a fourth win in five career starts after coming off a strong pace under William Buick to win the 12-furlong contest by a length and three-quarters from Deauville Legend.
Epsom Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal was a neck further back in third on his first start for George Boughey, although his chance was not helped when Ryan Moore dropped his whip in the closing stages.
It was a third Gordon Stakes success for the in-form Charlie Appleby following
Cross Counter in 2018 and
Cap O’Rushes in 2013.
Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said: “New London is a lovely horse. He has done nothing but improve. He ran in the
Derby Trial and then Charlie thought to miss the Derby, which I think paid the dividends.
"I am not sure of plans. He is not in the
Great Voltigeur, and Charlie said that we will let the dust settle and see how they come out of it. We will make a plan next week to see where everything goes. I am sure Charlie will come up with the best plan.
"It is very hard to say [which is the best of the Godolphin-trained St Leger hopefuls]. New London has won the Group race and the others have won handicaps. They are all nice progressive horses. Dubawis tend to improve and are tough, and that is what you need.
"He did come over the track. I think Will came a bit wide with his run, but he didn't mention anything untoward. Charlie's horses are in great order and long may it continue."
Buick said: “New London is a proper horse – he always has been. He is very exciting. The Derby prep didn't go well, but we are delighted to get him back and Charlie and his team have done a great job.
“He is a very good horse. We went a good pace and I wasn't following the horse I wanted to, so we were in front earlier than ideal. However, he is a strong galloper and he saw it out well, even allowing for that.
“This was always going to be a challenge for him and he has come through it with flying colours. I'm delighted and there's plenty more to come.
“He's got plenty of class. It's hard to be confident, but we can be hopeful about the St Leger trip. Those two furlongs are a long two furlongs, so we'll see. He relaxes well and gives himself every chance. Hopefully he will.
“New London has achieved more than Secret State. That was a deep Gordon field with the Derby second. He has passed the test and Secret State is up and coming – let's see if he can do it."
Daniel Muscutt, who rode Deauville Legend, said: “It was a good run. He found a rhythm behind the winner. There was plenty of pace early doors and he cruised into the race nicely. He couldn’t quite match New London’s turn of foot, but he ground it out well. The last 100 yards he stuck on past Hoo Ya Mal and it was a gutsy effort with the penalty. I thought that [the penalty] was maybe the difference.”
Hoo Ya Mal’s trainer George Boughey said: “He has run a great race. We took the hood off and he relaxed. The plan has always been the
Melbourne Cup. This is a stepping-stone to that. Ryan [Moore] was delighted, Gai [Waterhouse] is very happy and the owner who has come over to watch the race is very happy.
“Ryan said that he has run a very good race and that he did it all the right way round, which is what we wanted to see. Ryan lost his stick at about two-and-a-half furlongs to go, which might not have helped. It’s all about just looking after him because he has a big career ahead in Australia.”
Gordon Stakes
£200,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 3f 218y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6) New London 3 9-3 Charlie Appleby William Buick 6/4F
2 (9) 1¾ Deauville Legend 3 9-6 James Ferguson Daniel Muscutt 14/1
3 (1) nk Hoo Ya Mal 3 9-3 George Boughey Ryan Moore 6/1
4 (4) 2¾ Jack Darcy 3 9-3 Paul & Oliver Cole Neil Callan 12/1
5 (7) shd Cresta 3 9-3 Freddie & Martyn Meade Jamie Spencer 66/1
6 (8) ½ West Wind Blows 3 9-3 Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle 7/2
7 (10) ¾ Al Qareem 3 9-3 K R Burke Clifford Lee 20/1
8 (3) 3¼ Grand Alliance 3 9-3 Charlie Fellowes Daniel Tudhope 10/1
9 (5) 2½ Masekela 3 9-3 Andrew Balding Jason Watson 33/1
10 (2) 5 Sussex 3 9-3 Joseph O'Brien Shane Crosse 50/1
