Moon shines in Glorious Stakes
Last Updated: 01/08/14 5:51pm
A wrap-up of the rest of the news from day four at Glorious Goodwood where Pether's Moon booked an overseas adventure.
Pether's Moon was rewarded for his consistency with a hard-fought win in the Coutts Glorious Stakes at Goodwood.
A handicap winner at this meeting 12 months ago, the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old had run creditably in defeat in better company at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's July meeting on his last two starts.
He was sent off 11/10 favourite for this Group Three contest and appeared to run in snatches until Richard Hughes switched him to the far rail when he quickened and asserted his authority.
He went on to win by a length and quarter from Encke, who ran a mightily encouraging race on his first start since he won the 2012 St Leger.
Hughes said: "I put the gun to his head as we were taking on horses who might need a run.
"You think you're going better than you are, he doesn't find a great deal. He's got Australia written all over him."
Hannon said: "He looked like he didn't come down the hill very well and Hughesie had to get after him.
"Then he looked like he was beaten, then he came on the bridle. Without sounding arrogant, he's capable of a little bit more than that.
"We do like him, it was nothing more than he was due, he deserved it.
"I don't think this track really suits him. He's a nice, big horse and there are a lot of options for him abroad.
"Caulfield Cups and Japan Cups, things like that. We don't usually get many that like this sort of trip."
Encke's trainer Charlie Appleby was unsurprisingly delighted with the performance of the runner-up.
He said: "I'm really pleased. He travelled well, had a blow and he stayed on to the end. It was his first run for nearly two years so you have to be happy.
"Ideally maybe a mile and six (furlongs) is his trip so we'll take a look at the Irish St Leger, or perhaps the Grand Prix de Deauville."
Cafe Society ran a good race to finish third for trainer David Simcock. He said: "That was great as now he's qualified for some races in Australia. What those will be are up to Gai Waterhouse (trainer) - she's Alex Ferguson and I'm one of the youth team."
Wannabe Yours got up in the dying strides to deny Hors De Combat in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
William Buick brought the John Gosden-trained colt with a decisive late run to snatch the Group Three prize despite dropping his whip.
Hors De Combat veered across to the far rail when hitting the front, interfering with a couple of rivals on his inside.
He went a couple of lengths clear, but Wannabe Yours (7/1) cut him down in the shadow of the post to score by a neck.
Buick said: "It was a very classy performance, I even managed to drop my stick and we still won so I owe him a favour
"He's a very nice horse, I had to take him back and come round which you see horses do here, but only very good ones win. "He's good, he's learning quickly and this horse has a bright future. He's professional and did it the hard way.
"He's a proper miler and to step up to Group One company he has a long way to go, but he has all the right credentials."
Gosden said of the Normandie Stud-owned winner: "With the stud based nearby it's nice - it's tough breeding them.
"He's a very smart horse, it didn't go right on his final run last year but this year he's come out and won, won and won. He won by nine lengths last time out in a competitive handicap.
"This is the last three-year-old, black type race over a mile in Europe this year so we've been waiting for this race since June. I'd have been very disappointed if he hadn't won today.
"We'll talk about plans. There's a Group Two back here, the Celebration Mile, that's a very obvious race. Probably the Sussex Stakes next year could be a good one but we'll see, he's nice.
"William jumbled his reins and couldn't get through so if he'd had a clear run he'd have won easier."
Hors de Combat's rider Freddie Tylicki was found guilty of careless riding and was handed a four-day (August 15-18) suspension.
Son Of Africa (7/1) made virtually all the running to get his head back in front in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Nursery Handicap.
Well beaten at Pontefract after making a successful debut at Windsor, Henry Candy's youngster stuck on gamely under James Doyle to regain the winning thread.
The 11/4 favourite Markaz was last early on and came through late to finish second, half a length behind the winner. Sunset Sail was also putting his best work in at the end and was half a length away in third.
Doyle said: "The plan was to drop in and get some cover but he shot from the stalls like a bullet and rather than disappoint him, I let him stride on. "It's a hard place for a two-year-old to make all the running and he got a bit lonely in front."
Fortune completed a 107/1 double up when pouncing late on J Wonder (7/1) in the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Stakes.
The pacesetting Muteela looked like stretching her unbeaten record to five when still holding the lead in the final furlong.
However, the pack closed in as the line loomed and J Wonder, who had been towards the rear for most of the seven-furlong contest, registered as the Oak Tree Stakes, snatched the Group Three prize.
Brian Meehan's filly got up by a neck to score from Muteela, with Indignant three-quarters of a length away third.
Meehan said: "She was wonderful today. I thought Jimmy got a rough deal with that ban in the handicap earlier [the Betfred Mile], but I'm pleased to see him win again and he knows this filly so well.
"Things haven't gone her way, but she's back to where she belongs and races like the Matron Stakes, the Sun Chariot and the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland would all be options."
Son Of Africa (7/1) made virtually all the running in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Nursery Handicap and erase the memory of a disappointing and baffling flop at Pontefract, while Gary Moore's Tall Ship (10/1) sailed home in the Betfred Mobile Handicap.