Coral Stewards' Cup |
|
Heritage Handicap, Goodwood 15:35
£250,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus, 6f, Class 2  |
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Saturday 30th July 2022 |
1 Commanche Falls 25/1
2
Tabdeed 12/1
3
Regional 13/2
3
Good Eye 150/1
28 ran Distances: shd, 1½l, nk
Time: 1m 10.01s (slow by 0.11s)
Commanche Falls became the sixth dual winner of the Coral Stewards' Cup, and the first since Sky Diver in 1967 and 1968, with a blistering display in the heritage handicap.
Rated 2lb higher than last year, the Michael Dods-trained Commanche Falls produced his customary late surge under Connor Beasley to edge out Tabdeed in a head-bobbing finish to the £250,000 showpiece.
Regional grabbed third under Ryan Moore, while Swedish raider Good Eyes defied huge odds of 150/1 to finish fourth. Well-backed favourite Inver Park could never land a blow down the middle of the track.
The action unfolded towards the stands’ side and the first four home were all drawn in stalls 19 or higher.
Speaking from Thirsk, Dods told Racing TV: “I watched it on the big screen. We had runners here, so I needed to come here. I was watching the race thinking Tinto was travelling nicely just to the right of him. I thought Commanche Falls was travelling closer than expected. I thought they would be travelling hard and he would get a bit more out-paced. Then I saw Connor pushing him and coming through and I thought ‘he has a good chance here’. He hit the front and then I think the other one came and headed him – I’ve only seen it once – then he fought back on the line. It was great for Connor and great for everyone. It’s great for the owners and the whole team. He has just done so well. After the disappointment of Ascot [unseated]… we thought he would run a big race at Ascot, it all went wrong. We took a ticket and he went in joint last [into the stalls] today and Connor has given him a great ride. To do that two years running is what dreams are made of.
“It is tremendous for the whole team, it’s a whole team effort. It’s not just me, it’s the whole team and the owners – they’ve been great owners all along and have stood by us. I’m delighted for everybody involved, especially Connor – to go down there again, probably with only one ride today, he has shown how good a jockey he is again.”
Beasley said: “Commanche Falls seems to come alight when he comes down here. It’s a long way from home but he seems to like the stableyard and the track.
“The race has fallen apart in front of me and he is one of those who only does what he has to when he hits the front. I wanted to be behind the back of the pace, but when I rousted him along to get there, I've hit the front way too soon. He just idled in front, but when Hollie [Doyle on runner-up Tabdeed] came to his quarters, he stuck his neck out. It's fantastic for all connections and the team back at home. I'm over the moon.
“He's got a big, long neck on him and a big stride and I just felt that, when I asked him again as Hollie came to me, he stretched his neck out again. I was quietly confident [that he had won], but you can never be too sure when it's that close.”
Paul Graham, daughter of winning part-owner Doug Graham, said: “Dad will be over the moon. To be honest, we weren’t expecting it, so this has just been an amazing day. It seems like Commanche Falls knows what he needs to do when he is on that course, so it’s a really good day. There was a lot of shouting going on, it was really exciting. He came out quite fast as well, which he doesn’t normally do. We weren’t sure if he would get down the hill as quick as he did, but he has done us proud.”
Hollie Doyle said of Tabdeed: “He has run a huge race. He has turned himself inside out compared to his last two runs. He likes to pass horses but, being drawn where I was, I did need some luck. A furlong down I thought I was definitely going to get there, but the winner is very tough. It is great to see Tabdeed show some form.”
Sweden-based trainer Jessica Long said of Good Eye: “It has been a fantastic experience for everyone. We do have big handicaps in Sweden but not with this kind of money. Everything is on the round tracks at home and he has always struggled around a bend. I went to Germany last year and found different tracks. He ran cracking races there, including the 1200m straight at Baden-Baden. He won so well we have taken the chance again.
"I have not really told the owners yet [possibilities to stay for York], as the plan has always been the race we won in Germany [the Listed Casino Baden-Baden Silberne Peitsche]. It is a qualifier for the Goldene Peitsche, but you lose 16 per cent of the prize-money in tax. We have taken all the costs now so we might stay for York.
“We have been staying with Amanda Perrett for the last three weeks and have had an absolute fantastic experience – she has been very helpful with everything. We have about 20 horses and have never been afraid to travel. We have done a bit of travelling with the horse over the years, and it is good to have the experience.”
Dawson added: “Fair play to the trainer Jessie – she was confident that Good Eye could run a good race. It’s obviously very rare you see Scandinavian horses coming for these type of races. Usually, you see them in Dubai if they are good enough to win the Group races. It was a very, very competitive race and a very straightforward horse. I think Jessie mentioned she might stay for York, which I think would be a good option.”
Qatar Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£250,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 2
28 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (19) Commanche Falls 5 9-5 Michael Dods Connor Beasley 25/1
2 (28) shd Tabdeed 7 9-2 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle 12/1
3 (27) 1½ Regional 4 9-2 Edward Bethell Ryan Moore 13/2
4 (26) nk Good Eye 7 8-13 Jessica Long Ray Dawson 150/1
5 (18) nk Tinto 6 8-10 Michael Dods David Probert 33/1
6 (12) ½ Great Ambassador 5 9-9 Ed Walker Saffie Osborne 16/1
7 (6) 1¾ Makanah 7 9-4 Julie Camacho Paul Mulrennan 33/1
8 (15) nk Inver Park 4 9-0 George Boughey Ben Curtis 9/2F
9 (10) shd Summerghand 8 9-2 David O'Meara Jason Watson 12/1
10 (20) nk Mr Wagyu 7 9-8 6ex John Quinn Jason Hart 10/1
11 (11) 1¼ Chil Chil 6 9-12 Andrew Balding Harry Davies 11/1
12 (4) ¾ First Folio 4 9-0 James Ferguson Daniel Muscutt 9/1
13 (1) nk Gulliver 8 9-2 David O'Meara Martin Harley 50/1
14 (16) 1 Above 5 8-9 Stuart Williams Marco Ghiani 40/1
15 (7) 1½ Saint Lawrence 4 9-7 Roger Varian Jack Mitchell 25/1
16 (3) 1 Popmaster 4 9-3 Ed Walker Tom Marquand 9/1
17 (24) ¾ Method 4 9-4 Freddie & Martyn Meade Rob Hornby 33/1
18 (23) shd Zargun 7 8-8 Scott Dixon J F Egan 125/1
19 (9) ¾ Lampang 5 9-8 6ex Tim Easterby David Allan 28/1
20 (8) ¾ Batwan 7 9-3 N Caullery Hayley Turner 22/1
21 (25) 1½ Whenthedealinsdone 4 9-0 Roger Teal Neil Callan 16/1
22 (21) nk Justanotherbottle 8 9-9 Kevin Ryan Kevin Stott 40/1
23 (22) dht Able Kane 5 8-9 6ex Rod Millman Trevor Whelan 40/1
24 (2) 1 Raatea 5 8-10 Julie Camacho Sean Levey 22/1
25 (5) 1¾ Annaf 3 8-12 Michael Appleby Jim Crowley 14/1
26 (13) ½ Typhoon Ten 6 8-12 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 150/1
27 (17) 2 Coachello 4 9-8 1 John C McConnell Donagh O'Connor 66/1
28 (14) ¾ Rathbone 6 8-13 6ex Kevin Ryan Oisin McSweeney 50/1
