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Racing News 2010 |
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racing news /
Knight Hopes for Illustrious Goodwood Cup Victory
14/07/10
Illustrious Blue has already notched two victories at Glorious Goodwood down the years and the popular seven-year-old course specialist will bid for the biggest success of his career at the five-day summer festival in the £100,000 Group Two Artemis Goodwood Cup (3.25pm) over two miles on Thursday, July 29.
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Trainer William Knight took a bold step earlier this year in stepping his talented charge up to two miles from middle distances and connections were rewarded with a Group Three triumph in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in April.
A good fourth to Akmal followed in the Group Two Blue Square Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May, before a return to the Esher track on July 3 brought an unlucky runner-up finish to King Of Wands in the Listed Coral Marathon Stakes over the same two-mile distance.
But it is at Goodwood that the Dansili horse really thrives and his race record includes six wins at the picturesque West Sussex venue, including those two festival successes, the most recent of which came last season in the Group Three Coutts Glorious Stakes over a mile and a half.
Knight, who trains locally at Angmering Park, revealed today: “Illustrious Blue will go for the Artemis Goodwood Cup, that’s the plan if all goes well. Two miles is now his trip and we will stick to that distance with him.
“He ran a blinder at Sandown giving 5lb to the winner and he was probably a shade unlucky as well. He didn’t get the clearest run so it was a very good performance and they clocked a good time that day. If you take that into account, I think he will have a leading chance in the Artemis Goodwood Cup.
“He is in great order and loves Goodwood, as his record shows, so that obviously is in his favour as well.”
Knight is yet to capture the prestigious prize, unlike last year’s winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who was enjoying his second Goodwood Cup triumph with Schiaparelli, having also scored with Kayf Tara in 1995.
The Goodwood Cup, founded in 1812, is one of the highlights of the five-day summer festival at Goodwood that also features the £300,000 Group One Sussex Stakes over a mile on Wednesday, July 28 and the £200,000 Group One Blue Square Nassau Stakes over just short of 10 furlongs on Saturday, July 31.
