Richmond Stakes |
|
Group 2, Goodwood 14:25
£75,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
6f, Class 1  |
|
Thursday 28th July 2022 |
1 Royal Scotsman 5/6F
2 Al Karrar 6/1
3
Chateau 3/1
8 ran NR: Marshman Distances: 1½l, 1½l, shd
Time: 1m 9.66s (fast by 0.24s)
Well-supported market leader Royal Scotsman looks a colt destined for the top after setting a juvenile course record in the six-furlong Group 2.
Always travelling strongly under Jim Crowley, Royal Scotsman quickened away from his rivals entering the final furlong to score by a commanding length and a half, shaving 0.15s off the track record held by Bachir since 1999.
The lightly raced Al Karrar ran an encouraging race in second, with Chateau the same distance further back in third.
This was a fourth win in the race for trainer Paul Cole – 37 years after his first winner Nomination in 1985 – and a first in partnership with his son Oliver.
Paul Cole said: “Royal Scotsman likes a bit of cover and switches off well. Our main worry was just getting some cover, but nothing could have gone better today. It all went exactly as we'd hoped it would go.
“Nothing worries him – he is a fantastic horse. There is the possibility of stepping up in trip, but he has a lot of speed and is out of a fast mare [Enrol]. I can't see anything around that has as much speed as him. There are very good races on the horizon such as the Morny and potentially York. I'm not good at making quick decisions.
"I would say he is at the top. I've had two or three other great horses but leading up to this race he gave me a better vibe. You're never certain, as anything can happen, but everything went well and I couldn't comprehend being beaten.
“If you're looking at the 2,000 Guineas, good horses can win over a lot of trips. The way he behaves is very good. Whether he gets a mile or not I don't know - he is bred for it.”
Crowley said: “Royal Scotsman had the best form in the book. His Coventry form has worked out well and he was unlucky that day, as I was drawn one and got a bump.
“He still travelled very strongly today and would be even better with a bit of cut in the ground -– it was a nice performance. If the gap had shut, I would have kicked myself for not going. He was always going nicely and, once we got inside the final two furlongs, it was all over really.
“He has a lot of speed and could be a horse for the Prix Morny. He is physically strong and has lots of speed. The more he learns to relax, he will be able to go further.”
Jim Hay, husband of owner Fitri Hay, said: “That was thrilling. It's why we do it. Paul and Oliver were as confident as you can be coming into Goodwood. This is a very tricky track and there are no shoo-ins.
“We love coming to Goodwood and had a lot of success here. Win, lose or draw here, you have a fantastic day. Royal Scotsman is a serious horse."
Al Karrar’s trainer Tom Clover said: “I am thrilled with his run on only his second start. Experience has just caught him out there, as he was on and off the bridle the whole way.
"He hit the line really strong and galloped out. He has done everything bar win. He is a lovely horse with a lovely future. It was one of those things – do you go and win a novice under a penalty or come here? Have we done the right thing? I think we have – to be second in a Richmond is pretty good! And what is lovely for us is that he should improve for the experience.
"We have him in the
Champagne Stakes and, whether we will go six furlongs or seven furlongs next time, I don't know. If we get a smooth run through the autumn, he is a lovely horse for next year.”
Jake Warren, advisor to Chateau’s owner Isa Salman Al Khalifa, said: “He has run very well considering the tight turnaround from Newbury. He was a bit unlucky in running. He got caught on the rail and nearly had to start his race again at the halfway point. He has finished off really well.
"He is a lovely horse and we will try and find a nice race for him. We will look at the
Gimcrack and the two-year-old Pattern as it unfolds. I don't know at this point [whether he will go another furlong]. Havana Golds tend to be sharp horses. He is a nice big-framed animal, good size, scope, and one would have to think that it could be possible in time. At the moment, we will see.”
Richmond Stakes (Group 2)
£75,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5) Royal Scotsman 2 9-2 Paul & Oliver Cole Jim Crowley 5/6F
2 (6) 1½ Al Karrar 2 9-2 Tom Clover Jack Mitchell 6/1
3 (7) 1½ Chateau 2 9-2 Andrew Balding William Buick 3/1
4 (3) shd Crispy Cat 2 9-2 M D O'Callaghan Rossa Ryan 12/1
5 (4) 2¾ Bluelight Bay 2 9-2 Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop 12/1
6 (9) ½ Swift Asset 2 9-2 Richard Hannon Ryan Moore 20/1
7 (2) 2¾ Legend Of Xanadu 2 9-2 Mick Channon Tom Marquand 28/1
8 (8) 4 Shine's Ambition 2 9-2 Roger Fell Daniel Tudhope 150/1
NR 6 (1) 1 Marshman 2 9-2 K R Burke NON RUNNER
