Glorious Goodwood

racing_news/

Jamie Spencer Opens Door for Portal
19/08/06

1 Portal 10-3 Fav
2 Grain of Truth 5-1
3 Play Me 20-1
11 ran
Also: 8-1 Astronomia 4th
NR: Anna Pavlova

Jamie Spencer timed his run to perfection on board Portal as he hit the front in the shadow of the post in the Listed EBF Alice Keppel Stakes at Goodwood.

Spencer was last in the early stages on board James Fanshawe's three-year-old filly and looked to have set himself a stiff task as Ryan Moore sent Grain Of Truth to the front inside the final furlong.

However, Spencer galvanised the 100-30 favourite for one last lunge and they prevailed by a head from Moore's mount with Peter Chapple-Hyam's Play Me back in third.

Portal was the second leg of a 12-1 double for Spencer and Fanshawe as Buster Hyvonen (2-1) had collected in the House Party Stakes earlier on the card.

"She got Jamie out of jail," Fanshawe told Racing UK.

"Jamie would beg to differ I'm sure, but she picked up really well.

"At Ascot last time she didn't quicken but she's quickened up well today.

"Grain Of Truth went to the front easy enough but when our horse won her handicap here she picked up really well that day which was why it was a surprise she didn't pick up at Ascot last time.

"It's taken her a while to really relax but there wasn't much pace today and she relaxed really well. I can't see why she wouldn't stay a mile and a half and I hope she stays in training next year as she will make a nice type.

"We'll have no option but to step her up to Pattern company now as she's won this off 93."

Nice Tune Heading For Alice Keppel Stakes
16/08/06

Clive Brittain is hoping that his recent Glorious Goodwood scorer Nice Tune can follow up at the West Sussex venue in the £28,000 E.B.F. Alice Keppel Stakes, a Listed fillies' handicap over just short of 10 furlongs on Saturday, August 19, which has attracted 21 entries.

The four-year-old has shown tremendously consistent form this season, never finishing out of the first four in nine runs, and last time out produced a fine display under top weight when landing the Weatherbys Bank Fillies' Handicap over nine furlongs on August 2, defeating Princess Cocoa by a length.

Brittain explained: "She worked very nicely this morning and is heading for the Alice Keppel Stakes. She is a very genuine filly and I was delighted with her win last time.

"I think she deserves to collect some black type. She may be out of the handicap, but in an ordinary Listed race she'd be meeting the others on level terms, so she has to be in there with a good chance.

"The course was fine last time and the extra furlong won't be a problem for her."

Another filly heading for the contest is the James Fanshawe-trained Portal, third last time to Senor Dali in a 10-furlong classified event at Ascot on July 29.

The three-year-old daughter of Hernando had landed both her previous starts, following a maiden win over seven furlongs at Folkestone last September with victory at Goodwood on her seasonal return, in the Crimbourne Stud Handicap over just short of 10 furlongs on June 9.

Fanshawe commented: "Portal is heading to Goodwood for the Alice Keppel Stakes. The handicapper thought her last run was good form and put her up 2lb.

"She is fine and in good order. I hope they get a bit of rain there before the weekend."

The trainer also has Dash To The Front entered for the same race but is yet to make a decision on whether or not she runs.

Other entries include the Ed Dunlop-trained Eilean Ban, not seen since finishing sixth behind Rumplestiltskin in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp last October, Grain of Truth, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, conqueror of Nice Tune in a 10-furlong handicap on the all-weather at Lingfield on July 14, and Snow Crystal, successful on her debut at Yarmouth in June 2005 for John Gosden.

The E.B.F. Alice Keppel Stakes (7.30pm) is the feature race on a competitive seven race card at Goodwood on Saturday, August 19, that kicks off at 4.50pm with the £5,000 Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series Handicap, run over a mile for gentleman amateur riders.

The £7,500 House Party Handicap (5.25pm) over 11 furlongs is followed by the £6,500 Season Handicap (5.55pm) over five furlongs, £6,250 E.B.F. Chichester City Median Auction Maiden (6.25pm) over six furlongs and £10,000 E.B.F. Panama Hat Fillies' Handicap (7.00pm) over six furlongs, while the racing concludes at 8.00pm with the £9,000 Twilight Stakes, a handicap over a mile for three-year-olds.