Goodwood return next up for superb Trueshan
TRUESHAN put up a quite remarkable display under top weight to win the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap.
Alan King’s Group One winner was carrying 10st 8lb on Saturday afternoon, and while he was the class act in the field, he was giving upwards of 19lb to his rivals.
But money came pouring in for Trueshan just before the off and he was sent off the 3-1 favourite under Hollie Doyle, despite him only running having been a late absentee from two races at Royal Ascot due to quick ground.
Doyle was niggling away over half a mile out to hold her position and as the runners fanned across the track, he looked booked for a place at best as Spirit Mixer was sent for home.
Trueshan knuckled down in the manner of the class act he is though, winning by half a length from Spirit Mixer with Solent Gateway third and Rajinsky fourth.
Doyle, who claimed her first Classic success aboard Nashwa in the French Oaks last weekend, said: “It’s been a good few months, or years I could say. I can’t complain how things are going, but I’m pretty greedy, once I get a taste of success I want more and more. I’ll do all I can to keep it going. Long may it continue.”
Of Trueshan, she added: “That was unreal. But I had to give him a squeeze and I don’t usually have to do that. He’s never had to battle hard to win a race, he’s always won so easily. But he got into that battle and it was the first time I’ve ever seen it from him, but his ears pinned back and he really knuckled down. He was not getting beaten.”
Trueshan finished sixth under a big weight in last year’s Plate before going on to win the Goodwood Cup, the Prix du Cadran and the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot. Part-owner Alan Marsh will be doing a rain dance to allow the sixyear-old to defend his Goodwood crown on July 26.
He said: “It was an extraordinary win. Hollie told us exactly how she was going to ride him and she did it. We just tell her to get on with it and she does it. She knows the horse very well. All credit to her.
“I didn’t think he would win, of course not. It’s well documented we were running because we couldn’t run at Ascot, we are aiming for the Goodwood Cup and we needed a run. This was the safest place to run.
“I only decided to come at 3pm yesterday and I got to Kings Cross and found there was a train. I’m the only one of the four owners here. It’s a delight. Thank goodness they can’t put us up for the Goodwood Cup!”
Meanwhile, Ben Curtis delivered Zoffee with a well-timed challenge to claim the Northumberland Vase.
Hugo Palmer’s six-year-old, who has won over hurdles and fences, came home with just over two lengths in hand.
■ Westover turned the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby into a procession with a dominant display at the Curragh.
Thought by many to be an unlucky third at Epsom behind Desert Crown, Rob Hornby had been replaced by Ireland’s champion jockey Colin Keane for his Classic assignment.
Keane was intent on not letting the early pace-setter French Claim gain too much of an advantage in front, and while Westover was tracking the pace, his main market rival, Aidan O’Brien’s Oaks winner Tuesday, was dropped out by Ryan Moore.
Lionel was one of the first beaten and when Moore tried to make up ground on Tuesday, Keane asked
Westover to go and win the race two furlongs out.
The Ralph Beckett-trained colt galloped clear in relentless fashion and while Piz Badile gave game chase, he was no match for the impressive winner. A winning distance of seven lengths advertised his superiority with a further two back to French Claim in third. Tuesday came home in fourth.
Keane said: “I suppose every jockey says the race they would like to win is the Epsom Derby, the second one would be the Irish Derby, I think. It is great to win our home Derby. It’s unbelievable.
“Full dues to Rob Hornby, he told me everything I needed to know about the horse – a true gentleman.”