Saturday, Oct 19, 2013
Dubai Godolphin’s Farhh emphatically put an end to a string of losses when posting a pulsating victory in the £1.3 million British Champion Stakes (G1), even as rain wreaked havoc among the favourites on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday.
With Brazlian jockey Silvestre de Sousa riding out of his skin, the Lockinge Stakes (G1) hero displayed tremendous guts to topple 2011 winner Cirrus des Aigles and score by a neck.
Ruler Of The World, the Epsom Derby winner, was another half a length away in third and Hunter’s Light, who like Farhh is trained by Saeed Bin Surour, finished fourth.
“He travelled like a dream, and like the winner, through the race,” a delighted de Sousa told Channel 4 Racing. “He’s a marvellous horse and I’m delighted.”
Bin Suroor, who was notching his first success in the great race that was established in 1877, said of the winner: “He’s a great fighter - every year he has had problems.
“He’s a great horse and I’m so happy.”
Farhh’s victory went a long way in restoring the Godolphin’s pride following the brusing defeat of heavily-fancied Dawn Approach in the £1 million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1).
The prestigious contest was won in glorious style by the Richard Hughes-ridden Olympic Glory, who made light of the opposition to score by three and a quarter lengths from the supplemented long-shot Top Notch Tonto, the mount of Dale Swift, wile Irish hope Kingsbarns was a further three-quaters of a length back in third.
Dawn Approach, the 2-1 favourite who was looking to rediscover his 2,000 Guineas-winning form, failed to act in the soft ground and could only finish fourth.
Hughes said of the winner, who appeared to have benefitted from a change in equipment: “We always believed in him - he just travelled so well in that soft ground.”
Richard Hannon Jr, assistant and son of the Herridge handler Richard Hannon, commented: “It’s a big shout to put blinkers on a good horse like him but he lost his concentration in Paris last time.
“They went very fast today and that helped him - he travelled very well. He’s always gone well on this ground.”
Earlier veteran jockey Johnny Murtagh ended what has been a memorable year when Royal Diamond, who he trains and rides, won a thrilling renewal of the Group 3 British Champions Long Distance Cup.
The five-time British champion was at his rutheless best aboard the seven-year-old, prising out a dynamic three-quarter length victory over front running Harris Tweed, the mount of George Baker, to set the tone for some hot action.
A highly emotional Murtagh was both humble and gentle in victory as he made history by becoming the first person to train and ride a winner at the Royal track.
“I think that this is the best day of my life. I can’t thank everybody enough for giving me the horses,” he told Channel 4 Racing. I’ve got wonderful staff, a great wife and lovely kids - God is good! It’s been an amazing year for me - I really don’t know what to say.
“It’s a special day and I’m so grateful to so many people. You need good staff, good riders and my wife works in the office - it’s a huge effort on their part.”
By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special ?Features Writer
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
