Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes |
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| Group 2, Goodwood 15:40 £80,000 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1 |
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| Wednesday 30th July 2014 | |
1 Highland Reel 10/11F
2 Tupi 13/2
3 Room Key 20/1
8 ran Distances: 2¼l, ¾l, 1l
TIME 1m 26.81s (slow by 2.81s)
Highland Reel absolutely hacks up in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood
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Highland Reel justified his lofty reputation and a starting price of 10/11 with a decisive victory this afternoon.
The two-year-old son Galileo had entered many notebooks when powering to a 12-length victory in a mile maiden at Gowran Park on July 1 and had no problem dropping back to seven furlongs, staying on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths. Tupi was second with Room Key three quarters of a length further back in third.
Betfred, Ladbrokes, MansionBet and William Hill were suitably impressed, installing Highland Reel as their 12/1 favourite for next year's Investec Derby.
It was a 12th Glorious Goodwood winner for Aidan O'Brien, who said: "Highland Reel could have gone for a winners' race at Naas over six next week, even though he won over a mile last time. He is not short of pace and only ran over a mile last time because it fitted in well.
"He is a horse who learns quick and he will have learnt a lot today. He travelled well, quickened and went through the line strong. Joseph (O'Brien, jockey) said it was hard to pull him up.
"He could go to the Futurity Stakes or National Stakes next. All those type of races are open to him."
Joseph O'Brien, who was celebrating his first Glorious Goodwood triumph on his third ride at the course, added: "It is my first winner at Goodwood and it's nice to get the first one out of the way.
"Highland Reel won his maiden over further and has no problem staying but I would have no problem dropping him back to six furlongs.
"He is a well balanced horse and I was always confident through the race. He travels very well and loved the fast ground.
"He is in all the big seven-furlong two-year-old races, including the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. All those races are options and he is an exciting colt for the future."
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Tupi stayed on well for a runner-up spot on just his second start.
Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes
£80,000 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm
