Illustrious winner of Goodwood's stayers' title

Published on Thursday 29 July 2010 18:22

ILLUSTRIOUS Blue has made Goodwood his own over the past few years and thrust local trainer William Knight into the spotlight with his seventh course win in the Artemis Goodwood Cup.

Knight is based just 15 miles across the rolling Downs from the track and basked in the glory of his finest hour as Jim Crowley brought the 8-1 chance home a length and a quarter clear of Electrolyser. However, the race was robbed of its star performer as Ascot Gold Cup runner-up and 4-6 favourite Age Of Aquarius was pulled up with leg injury at the top of the hill after cutting out the running.

By contrast, Illustrious Blue was anchored in rear for much of the journey and only started to attack on the five-furlong dash to the line. Electrolyser had been left at the head of affairs when the favourite broke down, and it took a huge effort for Knight's seven-year-old to wear down the grey. The winner had shed his maiden tag at Goodwood way back in the early part of 2006 and was registering his third win at the Glorious meeting. Knight, in just his fifth year with a licence, said: "There is not a lot I can say but I am very, very happy. I said to my wife with four furlongs to run that I thought we would win and I wouldn't usually do that. This is my local track and he has now won at Glorious Goodwood three times so you can't ask for more."

Age Of Aquarius carried plenty of expectation after his Ascot exploits as he tried to emulate former stablemate Yeats, who was a dual winner of this race. The four-year-old was loaded into a horse ambulance and taken away to Arundel Veterinary Practice for further examination. Scots-owned Borderlescott teed up his defence of the Nunthorpe Stakes with a tenacious victory in the Audi King George Stakes, Stand-in jockey Kieren Fallon delivered the veteran to a half-length defeat of Group Therapy and all roads now lead to York, where he will try to land the big sprint for the third year in a row.

Richard Hannon is carrying all before him this season and is hoping the luck of owner Ollie McDowell extends to today's Tanqueray Richmond Stakes with Libranno.

Some years ago McDowell was down on his luck and decided to purchase a lottery ticket. The rest, as they say, is history. Libranno arrives in Sussex unbeaten but his victory in the July Stakes at Newmarket came as a surprise to connections.

"Ollie is a great character and a lucky one, as not only did he hit the jackpot at the lottery but he sent Libranno to the yearling sales and took him home after he failed to reach his reserve," said Hannon. "We barely knew that we had this Librettist colt in the yard until he won on his debut, but he then went and won the July Stakes at Newmarket and must be worth a few quid now.

"He is workmanlike rather than spectacular, but he kept on finding at Newmarket and he is the sort of horse who is best when allowed to do his own thing rather than try and organise him, so this track might suit him and (Richard) Hughesie can let him jump and run."