Qatar Lennox Stakes |
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| Group 2, Goodwood 15:00 £312,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 31st July 2018 | |
1 Sir Dancealot 5/1JF
2 Suedois 7/1
3 Breton Rock 20/1
12 ran Distances: shd, hd, nk
Time: 1m 27.08s (slow by 3.08s)
Sir Dancelot comes from last to win in a photo finish
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The four-year-old son of Sir Prancealot endured a troubled passage throughout the home straight in the seven-furlong contest under Gerald Mosse, but once finding room a furlong from home, the bay gelding showed a tremendous turn of foot to score by a short-head from David O'Meara's Suedois in second.
The David Simcock-trained Breton Rock, the 2017 winner, was head behind in third.
Newmarket trainer Elsworth said: "He got into more trouble than I get into down the pub on a Saturday night after I have had a few. Sir Dancealot would have been a very unlucky loser.
"I describe Sir Dancealot to the owners as like a tennis ball. He is bouncing up, going up, and I just wondered if he had reached the point of equilibrium - whether he had stopped or was even coming down. His level of form has been very good, which gave him a very good chance today.
"Four was a difficult draw for a horse who needs to be taken back a little bit and relaxed - he wants to do his running in the second half of the race. Gerald had a problem getting organised and everyone is trying to win. Whether the gaps materialise - a lot of good luck and good fortune is involved.
"We got lucky in the end but I feel he would have been an unlucky loser. We better be gracious in victory and say that it was a scramble.
"We had a crack at a G1 with him the other day and there are lots of races open to him. I put him in the Hungerford Stakes today.
"He is gelded now - he seemed to hang a little under pressure last year and, whether the gelding has helped because his undescended testicle seemed to cause him some discomfort. He is going very straight this year and I am sure it has helped him enormously.
"Winners gave every trainer satisfaction and it's nice to be associated with good horses."
David O'Meara, trainer of the second home Suedois, said: "He has run a blinder - there isn't really much more to add."
Danny Tudhope, rider of the seven-year-old, added: "That was another good run. He has taken a step forward - he always takes a step forward at this time off year."
David Simcock, trainer of the third Breton Rock, commented: "I'm delighted with the way he ran. For an old boy, he's run his heart out. He doesn't let us down very often and for a moment we thought he might win but we're very pleased with third place."
Martin Harley, the third's jockey, added: "I'm very pleased with the way he ran - he ran a good race. He obviously likes it here at Goodwood. I would have preferred to follow someone for a little bit longer, I tried to sit on him for as long as I could because I didn't want to get their too soon, but he deserves a lot of credit. He's not getting any younger, but he's still got it."
Qatar Lennox Stakes, Group 2
£312,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | Sir Dancealot (IRE) 5/1j | G Mosse 9-3 |
D R C Elsworth | 4 | |
| 2nd | (8) | s.h | Suedois (FR) 7/1 | D Tudhope 9-3 |
D O'Meara | 7 |
| 3rd | (3) | hd | Breton Rock (IRE) 20/1 | M Harley 9-3 |
D M Simcock | 8 |
| 4th | (12) | nk | Donjuan Triumphant (IRE) 33/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-3 |
A M Balding | 5 |
| 5th | (6) | 1 | D'Bai (IRE) 11/2 | W Buick 9-3 |
C Appleby | 4 |
| 6th | (1) | ½ | Spirit of Valor (USA) 8/1 | R L Moore 9-3 |
A P O'Brien | 4 |
| 7th | (11) | hd | Dutch Connection 12/1 | James Doyle 9-3 |
C Hills | 6 |
| 8th | (10) | ¾ | Karar 20/1 | Gregory Benoist 9-3 |
F H Graffard | 6 |
| 9th | (2) | ¾ | Here Comes When (IRE) 20/1 | Jim Crowley 9-3 |
A M Balding | 8 |
| 10th | (5) | nse | Emmaus (IRE) 7/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-3 |
R Varian | 4 |
| 11th | (7) | 1¼ | So Beloved 16/1 | P Makin 9-3 |
D O'Meara | 8 |
| 12th | (9) | 4½ | Tip Two Win 5/1j | David Probert 8-10 |
R A Teal | 3 |
