ALL TO PLAY FOR IN RACE TO BE GOODWOOD'S LEADING TRAINER
LOCAL BOY MOORE GOES HEAD-T0-HEAD WITH DETTORI
The Rolls-Royce Dick Hern Memorial Award for leading trainer at Goodwood in 2006 is still up for grabs with just two fixtures remaining this year (Wednesday, September 20, and Tuesday, September 26).
James Fanshawe and Richard Hannon currently lead the way with six wins apiece but it is a tremendously tight tussle, demonstrating just how competitive the racing is at Goodwood.
They both have had one more success than the trio of Mick Channon, John Dunlop and Saeed bin Suroor, who are all poised on the five-winner mark.
Newmarket-based Fanshawe's total includes a double on August 19, through Buster Hyvonen in the House Party Handicap Stakes and Portal in the Listed EBF Alice Keppel Stakes, while he also landed the Empire Property Group Handicap on June 10 with Firenze, later an excellent third to Borderlescott in the Vodafone Stewards' Cup back at Goodwood on August 5.
Hannon, who narrowly missed out on last year's award after scoring the same number of wins as Marcus Tregoning but lost on count-back, drew level with Fanshawe in the race for the trainer title after saddling Another True Story to capture the Countryside Alliance Nursery on September 10. The Wiltshire-based handler has an excellent record at Goodwood, having been top or joint-top trainer on number of wins at the track a total of five times in the last 13 years.
The race for the Rolls Royce/Dick Hern Memorial Award looks set to go down to the wire as each of the leading five trainers this season have horses entered for Goodwood's next fixture on Wednesday, September 20.
Hannon appears determined to do all he can to recapture the title he last won in 2004 as he is responsible for 10 entries at the entry stage, while Fanshawe has three engaged.
Channon could make a bold bid for the prestige of being named Goodwood's leading trainer of 2006 and has entered seven of his charges, including Championship Point who took the Listed Letheby & Christopher Predominate Stakes at the course in May, and is engaged in Wednesday's feature event, the Listed Charles James Homes Foundation Stakes (3.55pm).
Three of bin Suroor's four entries are in the same Listed contest, including Group Two winner Imperial Stride, who could make his seasonal debut in the 10-furlong race, while local Arundel trainer and Goodwood director, Dunlop, has four entries on the day.
In a pulsating battle to be leading jockey at Goodwood in 2006, there is nothing to choose between local boy Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori, who have had 15 winners each, making Goodwood the most successful course this year for both riders. They are well clear of Martin Dwyer, who has partnered six winners.
Champion jockey-elect Moore, the son of Brighton-based trainer Gary Moore, has a loyal following on the south coast thanks to his fine record at Goodwood and elsewhere.
The local favourite was on the scoresheet at the Glorious Goodwood Festival in early August with Nice Tune in the Weatherbys Bank Fillies' Handicap, having proved the man to follow at the course on June 23, landing a fabulous four-timer.
Frankie Dettori, Godolphin's number one rider, enjoyed a superb Glorious Goodwood meeting, ending the week as leading jockey after five victories, including Ouija Board's magnificent triumph in the Group One Vodafone Nassau Stakes and Iffraaj's imperious display in the Group Two Betfair Cup.
The popular Italian was also the star of the show at the June 10 fixture, when he produced a sensational performance in riding five winners on the card, at combined odds of 779/1.
Both jockeys were in action at Goodwood's most recent raceday on September 10, with Dettori riding a cool treble on Counterpunch, Pictavia and Dodge City, and Moore taking the final race on board Another True Story.
Godolphin is the current leading owner at Goodwood this season with five victories to date. The Boys in Blue' landed a Group Two double at the Sussex venue with Iffraaj in the Betfair Cup on August 1 and Caradak in the totesport Celebration Mile on August 27.
The seven-race card on Wednesday, September 20, commences at 2.10pm with the £5,000 iBetX.com Claiming Handicap over a mile, which last year went to Ryan Moore aboard the Milton Bradley-trained veteran, Lord Chamberlain.
Goodwood's final fixture of 2006 kicks off at 2.00pm on Tuesday, September 26, with the £7,000 Electrolux Foodservice Equipment Nursery over a mile, and features the £50,000 Group Three Merbury Catering Consultants Supreme Stakes (3.40pm).
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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