Glorious Goodwood

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Son Of The Cat Sets Sights On Blue Square Stewards’ Cup
07/07/11

Former racing driver Brian Gubby is hoping that Son Of The Cat (8st 8lb) can emulate his owner/trainer’s speed around Goodwood when the five-year-old contests the £100,000 Blue Square Stewards’ Cup (3.40pm) on the final day of Glorious Goodwood, Saturday, July 30.

Weights for the famous six-furlong heritage handicap, which attracted a superb entry of 136, were revealed yesterday.

Gubby, 77, rubbed shoulders with the likes of multiple Formula One champions Jim Clark and Jack Brabham in a career that included appearances in the British and Mediterranean Grand Prix in the 1960s, while he also raced three times around the stunning Monaco circuit.

Son Of The Cat, a 25/1 chance with Blue Square, won his maiden at Goodwood over the same course and distance of the Blue Square Stewards’ Cup in October, 2008, and took sixth on his latest start in a fiercely competitive Listed contest at Windsor on May 23, when he raced too keenly under first-time blinkers.

The Surrey handler revealed: “I am hoping that Son Of The Cat can get to Goodwood for the Blue Square Stewards’ Cup or the Bluesquare.com Stewards' Sprint Handicap if he misses the cut.

“He was due to run at Epsom last Thursday to get his rating up but he got cast in his box. We had him x-rayed and it was all clear but I am scratching around looking for races now.

“I made the mistake of putting blinkers on him at Windsor, because we just thought that he might be saving a bit for himself, but he hated wearing them and Neil Callan was frightened for his life. He was not beaten far in a very hot race and we were running all over the place, barging everyone.

“He is a tough little bugger and he won his maiden over six furlongs at Goodwood but he has a few little things that keep knocking us back.

“I used to practise racing at Goodwood a lot and I have raced sports cars and saloon cars around the racetrack, as well as Formula Junior. I warmed up for the Mediterranean Grand Prix there - Tony Brooks and John Surtees were also there and I was going as quick as them.

“My father was a jockey, as was his grandfather. We are an Epsom family and, after I packed in the motor racing, I bought a house that had three stables and slowly got into the horse side of things.”

Mac's Power
© Racehorse Photos

Reflecting the extremely open look of the Blue Square Stewards’ Cup, the sponsor now has five 12/1 co-favourites. The Mick Easterby-trained Hoof It (9st 8lb) shares 12/1 co favouritism with Wokingham Handicap winner and joint top-weight Deacon Blues (9st 10lb) and Mac’s Power (9st 3lb), who are both trained by James Fanshawe. Pastoral Player (9st 6lb), from the stable of Hughie Morrison, and the Jim Goldie-trained Hawkeyethenoo (9st 7lb), who was a comfortable winner of the ultra-competitive Victoria Cup at Ascot on his latest start, are the other two 12/1 co-favourites.

The 2009 Ayr Gold Cup winner Jimmy Styles (9st 10lb & 25/1), representing Clive Cox, and the David Barron-trained Waffle (9st 10lb & 16/1) also head the weights alongside Deacon Blues.

The Blue Square Stewards’ Cup has a safety limit of 28 but for the first time in 2011, the consolation race for horses which fail to make the final field, the £30,000 Bluesquare.com Stewards' Sprint Handicap, will also take place on the same day, providing a fantastic double-header of sprint handicap action.

Blue Square Stewards’ Cup - Latest Prices From The Sponsor

12/1 Pastoral Player, 12/1 Hawkeyethenoo, 12/1 Hoof It, 12/1 Deacon Blues, 12/1 Mac's Power, 14/1 Ritual, 14/1 Edinburgh Knight,14/1 Dungannon, 16/1 Humidor, 16/1 Novellen Lad, 16/1 Swiss Cross, 16/1 Evens And Odds, 16/1 Victoire de Lyphar, 16/1 Waffle, 16/1 Addictive Dream, 16/1 Dubai Media, 20/1 Tiddliwinks, 20/1 Dafeef, 20/1 Beyond Desire, 20/1 Gramercy, 20/1 Tajneed, 20/1 Lui Rei, 20/1 Tax Free, 20/1 Lutine Bell, 20/1 Parisian Pyramid, 20/1 Johannes, 20/1 Medicean Man, 20/1 Quest For Success, 20/1 Nasri, 20/1 Ancient Cross, 20/1 Lexi's Hero, 25/1 Irish Heartbeat, 25/1 Jimmy Styles, 25/1 Colonel Mak, 25/1 Joseph Henry, 25/1 Bajan Tryst, 25/1 Kalk Bay, 25/1 Docofthebay, 25/1 Kuanyao, 25/1 Son of The Cat, 25/1 Silaah, 25/1 Show Rainbow, 25/1 Secret Witness, 25/1 Rain Delayed, 25/1 Fitz Flyer, 25/1 Racy, 25/1 R Woody, 25/1 Fireback, 25/1 Fathsta, 25/1 High Standing, 25/1 Desert Law, 25/1 Crown Choice, 33/1 Noverre To Go, 33/1 Singeur, 33/1 Mon Cadeaux, 33/1 Sohraab, 33/1 Global City, 33/1 Prime Defender, 33/1 Advanced, 33/1 Blue Jack, 33/1 Swilly Ferry, 33/1 Favourite Girl, 33/1 Confessional, 33/1 Cape To Rio, 33/1 Brave Prospector, 40/1 Majestic Dubawi, 40/1 Secret Asset, 40/1 Edge Closer, 40/1 Tamagin, 40/1 Mr David, 40/1 Mister Hughie, 40/1 Five Star Junior, 40/1 Golden Desert, 40/1 Atlantic Sport

Each-Way Terms: 1/4 the odds for the five FIVE places