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New Paper
01-08-2025
- Climate
- New Paper
Whirl of a day at Goodwood
GOODWOOD Day 3 of one of the most famous UK race meetings was not without its fair share of high drama on and off the track on July 31, quite literally. Thunder and lightning, and torrential rain struck at the third day of the not-so-Glorious Goodwood festival, turning the fillies' feature, the Group 1 Nassau Stakes (1,991m) into a slog through heavy ground. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Whirl still made light of the atrocious conditions and an unorthodox flag start after the barrier stalls were deemed unsafe to use, to land the day's highlight in emphatic fashion. But such gloom at the West Sussex track could have turned even darker if an earlier incident at 10,000 feet had not come to a happy ending. Five jockeys flying down from the north of England missed the meeting after their twin-engined plane had to make an emergency landing. Thankfully, no one was injured. Rowan Scott, P.J. McDonald, Callum Rodriguez, Tom Eaves and Jack Garritty got a huge scare when one of the engines failed halfway through their flight from Bagby in North Yorkshire. Amid the chaos, the five riders' first reaction was to still text their agents they would miss their Goodwood rides. The pilot managed to turn back and make a safe landing at Bagby. Scott, who was at his first time taking such a private flight - a regular mode of transportation for northern-based jockeys needing to travel the 450km distance to Goodwood - was just glad he could live to tell. "We were all a bit shook up. Thank God we're in one piece," he told The Mirror. "The pilot wasn't best pleased with the situation we were in but he was keeping his cool. "Jockeys often fly down from there. I hadn't before and I don't think I'll be rushing to do it again." Back on Earth, with lightning ruling out the traditional stalls start, jockeys were in the highly unusual position of starting a top-level race with a flag after a 10-minute delay for a gap in the weather. It was Ryan Moore on board the $8 favourite Whirl who set out in front, with the Wootton Basset three-year-old filly splashing her way through standing water on the track to make all. Royal Ascot scorer Cercene (Gary Carroll) finished second five lengths back in her wake, with See The Fire (Oisin Murphy) a further one-and-a quarter lengths away in third. "I can't remember a Group 1 race starting without stalls. It was unbelievable," Irish trainer O'Brien told ITV. "Well done to everybody getting it going. She's an amazing filly. Ryan gave her a lovely ride and she handles all types of ground." Moore was also taken aback by the one-off getaway, but the British champion jockey made the most of the curveball, as he does. "The start wasn't ideal," he said. "She's very uncomplicated and has loads of ability. She stays well, can handle quick ground and can handle slow ground." AFP
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Banker material' Aidan O'Brien horse banned from Royal Ascot backed off the boards for next race
AN Aidan O'Brien horse punters are certain is 'banker material' has been backed off the boards for his next race - after being banned from Royal Ascot. Two-year-old colt Italy is all the rage for Saturday's Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. 1 Italy was hugely impressive when overcoming inexperience to score at 4-9 on debut at Leopardstown in May. Those who watched said at the time they were confident the horse 'wins wherever he goes' next time out. The form has been boosted massively too, with 16-1 runner-up Thesecretadversary finishing second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Italy was blocked from running in that race because it is only for two-year-olds whose sire won over 10f. Italy, who cost 200,000 guineas and is by Wootton Basset out of a sister to O'Brien's Derby winner Serpentine, hasn't run since his awesome debut. But he is all set to tear up the Superlative - and follow in the hoofsteps of former O'Brien superstars City Of Troy and Gustav Klimt. O'Brien said Moore doesn't make his mind up on who he will ride until five minutes before the cut-off time of 1pm. But in an unusual move, Moore has already been jocked up on Italy for the 7f Group 2. It is a particularly interesting development because O'Brien also has £350,000 Dorset in the race too - although he is unlikely to run. Bookies initially went 11-10 Italy but he has been backed off the boards since and is now as short as 8-13. Italy is already 12-1 favourite for next year's Derby but that price could collapse if he demolishes rivals this weekend. Godolphin's No1 trainer Charlie Appleby has fired some good ones at the Superlative in recent years as well. Former champion two-year-old and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas are among the winners. He is set to run Saba Desert this year - a winner at Sandown on debut last month. But the son of Dubawi out of a Sea The Stars mare is nowhere near as strong in the market as Italy. Speaking after his first run, O'Brien was clearly trying to temper expectations but couldn't hide his delight. He said: "He won his maiden very well at Leopardstown and he is a colt that we always liked at home. "We have been happy with him since then. 'He was green when he ran at Leopardstown, but we liked him before the race, and he will improve again from that. I was more than happy with the performance. 'The form has been given a boost as the runner-up put in a good solid run to finish second last time out in the Chesham at Ascot." . Remember to gamble responsibly
