Johnston hails inmates as records fall

Mark Johnston equalled the record for career winners at Glorious Goodwood with a double on day two of the showpiece fixture.

Wins for Sir Ron Priestley and Mrs Bouquet not only brought up the Johnston half-century for the month of July – a record in itself – they saw the Scottish-born trainer join Sir Michael Stoute on 80 victories at the famous meeting on the Sussex Downs.

Johnston said: “I didn’t know that we had broken all these records, particularly not the Sir Michael Stoute record. It’s also very special to win 50 races in a month.

“It is all about the horses. We don’t miss any entries, we don’t miss any races and we are just great believers in running our horses. When things are going well and the sun is shining, we are great believers in running them again.

“We do not mind running horses again soon after one race because they are in peak form.”

Liberty Beach overcame trouble in running to record a decisive success in the Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes.

Having followed up a debut victory at Redcar with success in the Hilary Needler at Beverley, John Quinn’s filly finished fourth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot before bouncing back to winning ways in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown in early July.

Stepping back up in class for this fivefurlong Group Three, the daughter of Cable Bay was the 11-8 favourite in the hands of Jason Hart.

Timoshenko made the perfect return to action after almost a year off to complete the first leg of a two-race plan in the Unibet Goodwood Handicap.

The Sir Mark Prescott-trained son of Archipenko showed he was ready to fire first time out as he completed a six-timer in the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Mark Johnston: 50 winners in July.