There is currently ticket availability online for the Gordon and Lennox Enclosures for all five days of Glorious Goodwood - Tuesday, August 1 to Saturday, August 5.
Any unsold tickets will be made available on the day, but there are only 1,000 and 400 unsold Gordon Enclosure tickets for Thursday (August 3) and Saturday (August 5) respectively.
Last year the Lennox Enclosure sold out on the Saturday.
To guarantee admission, racegoers are advised to book online while tickets remain available.
www.goodwood.co.uk/horseracing
ASCOT JULY MEETING - HONG KONG DAY
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2006
RECORD CROWD FOR HONG KONG DAY
Today’s attendance came to 18,874, a new record for Hong Kong Day which saw 15,835 attend in 2004 when last held at Ascot.
Attendances at the July Meeting
Crowd figures were up on all three days, with a total of 64,461 attending the meeting, an increase of 7,328 over 2004.
DAY 2006 2004 +/-
Friday 13,150 9,841 +3,309
Saturday 32,437 31,457 +980
Sunday 18,874 15,835 +3,039
totals 64,461 57,133 +7,328
Race 1 - Woodcote Stud Handicap - Winning Quotes
DARWIN GAINS DESERVED WIN
Charles Darwin gained just reward for a stream of good recent efforts when prevailing in the opening Woodcote Stud Handicap over six furlongs.
The three-year-old Tagula colt battled on bravely under Neil Callan to prevail by a neck from Third Set with Grantley Adams a short-head back in third.
Winning trainer Michael Blanshard said: “Charles Darwin kept going all the way to the line and is a very genuine horse.
“He had good form and I’ve always thought he was a nice horse. Last year, he came up against some Listed-placed horses on several occasions.
“He always knocking on the door and there are never any problems with him - he’s a tough old thing.
“We just let him be himself today. I don’t know where he will go next. He goes on any going but may prefer a bit of give in the ground.”
Mike Beever, the successful owner, added: “I used to live in South Africa and have horses there. Charles Darwin is named after a very good horse in South Africa of the same name.
“It was nice to get a winner. This horse has been very unlucky this year with lots of interference and draw bias.”
The jockeys riding in the first race generally thought the official going description of good to firm to be correct.
Richard Hills, who was on eighth Dhekraa, commented: “It is the same as yesterday, generally good to firm.”
Steve Downe, who partnered the second Third Set, declared: “It is good to firm - proper fast ground.”
Ted Durcan, whose mount was third Grantley Adams, said: “It is on the firm side and faster than yesterday.”
Race 2 - Brunswick Handicap
PILLAR TO POST SUCCESS FOR ROAD TO LOVE
The 3/1 joint-favourite Road To Love registered a pillar to post success in the Brunswick Handicap, defeating London Express by seven lengths in a 1-2 for trainer Mark Johnston.
The mount of Richard Hills had seven lengths to spare over his stablemate, the other 3/1 joint-favourite, at the finish and was recording his second success of the season.
Mark Johnston said: “I think a right-handed track and an uphill finish suits him.
“The race panned out perfectly - he wasn’t taken on early and the pace wasn’t too fast.
“London Express has also run a good race. The trip seemed fine today although we had thought he might need further. More give in the ground would possibly suit him.
“Both horses will now head to Goodwood next week and have various options. It’s hard to try and plan where they will run now with the 48-hour declarations. I plan to have a team of around 20 runners at Goodwood.
“Road To Love is a very nice horse and I think he is capable of better.”
The trainer’s son Charlie added: “I rode Road To Love on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning and he gave me a good feeling.
“After his win at Sandown earlier this year he was 480 kilograms but when he ran badly at Newmarket he was only 472 kilograms and had obviously not put the weight back on.
“He just went too fast at Newmarket last time. We thought he had to lead but I think you just have to switch him off and let him do what he wants.
Race 3 - Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint
MACHINIST THE BEST OF NICHOLLS’ SEVEN
Machinist proved the best of David Nicholls’ seven runners in the £70,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint, when holding on by a short-head from the fast-finishing One More Round in the five-furlong handicap.
When questioned whether he thought Machinist was the best of his seven runners, Nicholls quipped: “You do ask some funny questions!
“Actually, they’ve all run pretty well and to be honest I thought he was going to be beaten by the runner-up.
“He was supposed to be in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood next Saturday but due to a mistake by me, he was not entered. I don’t know what happened - I think he was near the bottom of the page and I missed him. Fortunately, the owners Jason Berry and Tom Gould have been very understanding.
“Anyway, we had this race as a contigency plan and it has worked out well.
“He is in a classified stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday and also a handicap on the Thursday. As regards trip, he is pretty versatile between five and seven furlongs. You can wait on him and pick up when you want to.”
The successful rider Joe Fanning added: “He buckled down well, although I thought we had got beat on the line.
“I think the fact that all the field came to race in the centre helped us. He slightly missed the kick but travelled well and stretched his neck out at the finish.”
James Doyle, rider of the short-head runner-up One More Round, thought he had timed his challenge to perfection but the photo-finish went against him.
He said: “I thought I had won. If the gap had come a couple of strides before then I would have got there. “
One More Round’s trainer Nick Littmoden commented: “I was right on the line and was not sure of the result to be fair. It is just a nod, it literally is.
“The horse is in great form and he will go for the Stewards’ Cup (on Saturday at Goodwood) now - I hope he gets a good draw.
“He would have to be better for the extra furlong there.”
Ron Harris, trainer of the third Golden Dixie, is also intending to run his charge in the Stewards’ Cup.
“We were just caught but Golden Dixie will win a big race. He will run in the Stewards’ Cup. He has won over six furlongs - he has a good cruising speed and travels well in his races.”
Bookmakers William Hill, totesport and Stan James cut One More Round from 33/1 into 20/1 for the Stewards’ Cup.
Champions Gallery, the best-backed horse of the day, rewarded his supporters with a length and three-quarter success in the Cathay Pacific 60th Anniversary Handicap over a mile.
Available at 20/1 this morning, the winner was backed down to an SP of 7/1 and stayed on well under John Egan.
The successful trainer David Elsworth said: “We have always thought he was a very good horse but have struggled with him all year.
“He was entered in races like the 2000 Guineas and Irish Derby at the start of the year.
“However, it is only recently that he has really bloomed and starting giving us strong signals that he has come right. We were confident of a good run and the money was down!
“He was just a different horse today. Earlier in th year he was very quiet and we didn’t see the best of him. We have now seen the proper horse.”
John Egan added: “He won quite well. I got there plenty soon enough but I had wanted to put it to bed early. He’s a nice horse - this is the first time I have sat on him.”
Brazillian jockey Jose De Souza rode his first winner at Ascot when partnering Rayhani to success in the mile and a half Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap.
The jockey is the elder brother of fellow jockey Nelson De Souza and was recording his British second victory from 30 rides this year.
He is a successful jockey in Brazil and came to Britain last year. Jose De Souza is based with trainer Paul Cole.
The winner, owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, carried top weight of 9st 7lb and came from off the pace to deny Ollie George by a head.
Patrick MacEwan, assistant trainer to Marcus Tregoning, was quick to praise De Souza: “That was a brilliant ride.
“Jose has ridden a very patient race and just sat there before he came wide to deliver a challenge. He timed it perfectly.
“This horse isn’t the easiest ride as he is not great in the stalls and just takes a while to get going. Jose just let the horse find his stride which is what he needs.
“I don’t know where he will go from here.”
Race 6 - Owen Brown Maiden Fillies’ Stakes - Winning Quotes
PEARL’S GIRL IMPROVES TO LAND THE LAST
Pearl’s Girl came good at the fifth time of asking in the Owen Brown Maiden Fillies’ Stakes with Paul Hanagan in the saddle, who was registering his first ever winner at Ascot.
The winner, returned at 9/2, is trained in Newmarket by William Haggas and stayed on well from off the pace in the final furlong to deny Jewaar by a neck.
Maureen Haggas, representing her husband, said: “We thought at the start of the year that she was one of our three best three-year-olds along with Idarah and Sharplaw Autumn - they have certainly taken their time and Mont Etoile (who won the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot) has come through and eclipsed all of them!
“This filly is still learning and is at last starting to get things together.
“She has not been entirely straightforward and has not always been on her best behaviour, but now seems to be enjoying her racing and is much more professional.
“Her concentration has certainly improved and she has grown up.
“We will now be looking to run her in a handicap - I hope we are not assessed too harshly!”
GROUND
The going for the final day of the July Meeting, Hong Kong Day, is:
GOOD TO FIRM
Ascot’s Clerk of the Course, Chris Stickels, reported: “The forecast rain did not arrive in the quantity we expected. We were predicted to receive between three and four millimetres but in fact received less than one millimetre.
“Accordingly, we have now removed the good in places from the going description.”
BETTING NEWS
Several horses have been backed this morning.
In the opening Woodcote Stud Handicap (1.40pm), Grantley Adams in now 11/2 (from 7/1) with totesport.
London Express has been very well supported in the Brunswick Handicap (2.10pm) and has been cut into 9/4 (from 5/2 and 3/1) with Stan James and 9/4 (from 3/1) with totesport. His stable companion Road To Love has also been backed with Stan James and is now 5/2 (from 3/1).
In the big race of the day, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint (2.40pm), veteran Orientor is now 12/1 (from 14/1) with Stan James and VC Bet, and 11/1 (from 14/1) with William Hill. Golden Dixie is 16/1 (from 20/1) with Stan James and 16/1 (from 25/1) with VC Bet, while Kay Two is into 20/1 (from 25/1) with Stan James and 16/1 (from 28/1) with William Hill. VC Bet have also clipped in Machinist to 12/1 (from 14/1), with totesport cutting Bo McGinty to 15/2 (from 10/1).
The best-backed horse of the day so far has been the David Elsworth-trained Champions Gallery, who is now 10/1 (from 20/1) with Stan James, 7/1 (from 12/1) with VC Bet, 8/1 (from 16/1) with totesport and 15/2 (from 20/1) with William Hill in the Cathay Pacific 60th Anniversary Handicap (3.15pm). In the same contest, William Hill have shortened Bee Stinger to 13/2 (from 8/1).
Ollie George is the one punters want in the Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap (3.50pm), coming into 4/1 (from 5/1) with Stan James and 9/2 (from 11/2) with totesport.
EPIC KING GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH DIAMOND STAKES
Today’s newspapers contain awed reports of yesterday’s £750,000 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, Britain’s top race, which was won in a thrilling finish by Hurricane Run from Electrocutionist and Heart’s Joy.
Jon Lees of the Racing Post wrote “It takes great horses to make great horse races and on Saturday the sport witnessed an epic that confirmed Hurricane Run's status as the best performer on the globe. Championship honours may often be conferred on foreign soil, by an Arc or Breeders’ Cup victory, but on Saturday British racegoers were treated to a true sporting classic, one for which the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes was created.
“An ace in Paris last October where he produced a storming finish to claim the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Hurricane Run trumped that to pass his most exacting challenge. Faced with the twin threats of Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist, a heroic performer in spite of a pre-race health scare, and Japanese star Heart’s Cry, the French colt’s recovery from what had seemed likely defeat contributed to an absolutely thrilling climax, one that will live long in the memory.”
Sue Montgomery of the Independent On Sunday enjoyed witnessing the Group One contest at Ascot as well. “If there was a notion that one of the smallest fields on record might have diminished the 56th King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, it was firmly blown out of the water by the unfolding of events here yesterday. Massed ranks of horses are not a prerequisite to raise the hairs on the back of the neck; all it takes is three top-class ones, enough sub-plots to keep Shakespeare himself busy and a denouement that unfolded like high-speed chess.”
Eddie Fremantle of the Observer was also in raptures. “The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes has been a race that has a history of producing the sort of finish that makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise. Grundy's battle with Bustino in 1975 is the one most people cite and my favourite was The Minstrel's epic struggle with Orange Bay two years later, but Hurricane Run's thrilling victory from Electrocutionist and Heart's Cry was right up there with them. Even though there were only six runners, this was the race of high drama, some of it enacted before it had even started..”
Brough Scott in the Sunday Telegraph agreed. “Small fields need not make a dull race. Only six runners for this running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes but by the time Christophe Soumillon thrust Hurricane Run over the line half-a-length in front of the duelling pair of Electrocutionist and Heart's Cry we had been through drama enough for a dozen of them.”
Tim Richards in the Sunday Times concentrated on Kieren Fallon missing the ride on Hurricane Run. “In the moment of glory the beleaguered Kieren Fallon was even more conspicuous by his absence. Hurricane Run, arguably the greatest horse he has ridden, graced Ascot yesterday with all the power and acceleration of a world champion to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in the hands of his deputy Christophe Soumillon.
“In the almost certain knowledge that he will not be riding in England again for at least a year, Fallon will have been watching the Ascot action from afar with inconsolable frustration before fulfilling his commitments in Ireland of seven booked rides at Leopardstown last night.”
Geoff Lester in the Sportsman wrote: “Christophe Soumillon has never lacked confidence and how he revelled in completing this great escape to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on the 5/6 favourite Hurricane Run.”
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
