Dutch Connection (white cap) goes clear of Home Of The Brave (red cap)
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Dutch Connection strikes for in-form McDonald
Report: Goodwood, Tuesday, Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2) 7f, 3yo+
THEY won the feature race on Goodwood’s opening day 12 months ago with Toormore, and Godolphin struck again in the Lennox Stakes thanks to a power-packed performance from 9-4 favouriteDutch Connection under in-form James McDonald.
The famous blue colours were carried by three of the eight-strong field in the £300,000 Group 2 contest, and it was the Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old who triumphed, collaring Home Of The Brave inside the final furlong to score by a length and three-quarters.
McDonald the man again
RELATED LINKS, Race result
Dutch Connection had finished second in the race last year and runner-up in another pair of Group 2s this season and was winning for the first time since landing the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015.
McDonald, who has come in for some high-profile rides following the 30-day suspension of William Buick, was clearly delighted with the victory.
The jockey, who was riding Dutch Connection for the first time and who also rode Big Orange to a Group 2 success this month, said: “He’s an awesome horse, I can’t believe I’ve won a big race for Charlie Hills. He brought me over three years ago and had so much faith in me, I can’t thank him enough.”
World class
Hills, who was landing his third Group win of the year, was thrilled with McDonald and said: “He’s a world-class jockey who is still very young. We’re going to see a lot of him. He’s very laid-back, has a good relationship with horses and is very positive.”
The Lambourn trainer was equally enthused by Dutch Connection, who travelled well very throughout the contest, and added: “He had some good form going into the race and had a favourite’s chance. They went a good solid pace and he has a high cruising speed so it played into his hands.
“There are options, including dropping back a little in trip for the Prix Maurice de Gheest. I cannot see any reason why he couldn’t win a Group 1 on the right ground. Fast ground is really key for him and he should improve as he gets older.”
Godolphin’s Home Of The Brave kept on for a clear second with Hugo Palmer’s other runner Gifted Master back in third having cut out much of the early running.
War Decree (right) blitzed into the 2017 Classic picture
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
War Decree powers home in Vintage Stakes
Report: Goodwood, Tuesday, Qatar Vintage Stakes (Group 2), 7f, 2yo colts and fillies
WAR DECREE produced a dominant display as he drew clear of the field under a hands and heels ride from Ryan Moore and announced himself as a serious contender for next season’s Classics.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt held off Godolphin pair Thunder Snow and Boynton to justify 6-4 favouritism. The win brought up a landmark moment for Aidan O’Brien, as he secured his highest total of prize money for a season in Britain.
Last year the race was won by subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, and War Decree looked every bit the Classic contender when brushing aside his rivals.
How the race unfolded
Travelling for the most part tracking the leaders next to the rail, Moore moved his mount out into daylight with the furlong marker beckoning and, after slight hesitation, War Decree showed his class to breeze by the leaders and take control of the race.
While Moore engineered a clear passage, his main market rival had anything but. As James Doyle tried to manouvre Boynton into a position to challenge he encountered traffic issues which put an end to his claims, although he rallied with a strong run to finish third.
Moore was highly encouraged by the performance. “I think that there’s more to come,” he said. “I had a smooth run but he’s green and inexperienced, and still learning on the job. He looks like a colt for the future.”
Where next?
On future targets Kevin Buckley, representing owners Coolmore, nominated the “Champagne Stakes or the National Stakes” as options for War Decree, and added: “given his pedigree, [a trip to the USA] is certainly a possibility.”
Bookmaker reaction was mixed, with bet365 as short as 10-1 following the victory, while BoyleSports and Coral offer 16-1 for War Decree in next season’s 2,000 Guineas.
O’Brien has now earned £3,930,271.54 in Britain this year, making it his most successful British season. Buckley commended the achievement of their trainer and said: “It’s quite extraordinary, the man’s a genius. It’s been a phenomenal season and everything has stayed healthy.”
GOODWOOD RESULTS DAY 1 |
GOING: Straight course – GOOD; Round course – GOOD TO FIRM (Good in places). Weather conditions: overcast, bright spells after race 1.
STALLS: Straight course – Stands’ side; Round course – Inside
2:00 - Matchbook Betting Exchange Stakes (Handicap)1m2f, Class 2, £31,125.00 1 Fire Fighting 8/1C NR: Felix Mendelssohn (IRE) 17 ran Distances: nk, 1½l, ½l Jockey: Adam Kirby WIN £8.00 PL £1.90, £2.50, £2.70, £2.30 |
2:35 - Qatar Vintage Stakes (Group 2)7f, Class 1, £113,420.00 1 War Decree 6/4F NR: Larchmont Lad (IRE) 9 ran Distances: 1¾l, 1l, ½l Jockey: Ryan Moore WIN £2.20 PL £1.10, £2.10, £1.30 |
3:10 - Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2)7f, Class 1, £170,130.00 1 Dutch Connection 9/4F 8 ran Distances: 1¾l, 1¾l, ½l Jockey: James McDonald WIN £3.20 PL £1.20, £1.30, £2.30 |
3:45 - Better Odds With Matchbook Summer Stakes (Handicap)1m6f, Class 2, £62,250.00 1 Elidor 16/1 14 ran Distances: nk, ¾l, 3l Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa WIN £17.50 PL £4.80, £2.50, £2.80 |
4:20 - Weatherbys Private Bank Stakes (Handicap)5f, Class 2, £19,407.00 1 Boom The Groom 13/2 NR: Lady Kyllar, Union Rose,Waseem Faris (IRE) 16 ran Distances: ½l, ½l, ½l Jockey: Adam Kirby WIN £7.30 PL £1.80, £1.50, £3.40, £6.70 RULE 4: Union Rose was withdrawn. Price at time of withdrawal 12/1. Rule 4 applies to bets struck prior to to withdrawal but not to SP bets – deduct 5p in the pound. New market formed. |
4:55 - Irish Thoroughbred Marketing EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race)6f, Class 2, £12,938.00 1 Best Solution 11/2 NR: Colonel Frank, Harry Angel (IRE) 10 ran Distances: 1l, 3l, ½l Jockey: James Doyle WIN £3.10 PL £1.10, £2.30, £7.00 RULE 4: Harry Angel was withdrawn. Price at time of withdrawal 5/6F. Rule 4 applies to all bets – deduct 50p in the pound. |
5:30 - Smarter Bets With Matchbook Betting Exchange Fillies’ Stakes (Handicap)1m, Class 3, £12,938.00 1 Desert Haze 13/2 11 ran Distances: 1l, ½l, hd Jockey: Oisin Murphy WIN £7.50 PL £2.40, £2.30, £2.20 |
fonte : RacingPost
MARTEDÌ 26 LUGLIO 2016 Goodwood, day 1: James McDonald pennella Dutch Connection nelle Lennox Stakes. War Decree si rivela nelle Vintage..