The stands are empty, but the turf is full of incident
Goodwood’s season got under way in the strangest environment imaginable.
But one thing has not changed, and that’s the quality of the racing on offer.
Racegoers may have been able to watch only on TV, apart from those who ventued up on to Trundle Hill, but they will have glad to see some fine horses racing over the familiar undulations of the South Downs.
And the two days of action will only have intensified the hopes of many that at least some members will be allowed in to watch Glorious week.
A total of 16 races were run across Sunday and Monday afternoons as Goodwood officials showed the authorities they were capable of staging fixtures at which new health and social distancing rules can be adhered to strictly.
First honours of the season went to Sussex jockey Jim Crowley and trainer Marcus Tregoning, whose 10/11 favourite Asiaaf won Sunday’s opening race, the Coral Customers Stream UK Racing Free Online Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
Tulip Fields (7/1) took the Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Handicap for Joe Fanning and Goodwood’s top trainer Mark Johnston, while Lullaby Moon was a surprise 20/1 victor in the Coral Beaten By A Length Free Bet EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes for Charles Bishop and Joseph Tuite.
In-form Hollie Doyle, a recent Goodwood ambassador, won the Coral Beaten By A Length Free Bet Handicap for trainer Archie Watson on 6/1 shot Electric Ladyland.
The first of the afternoon’s two listed races, the Coral / British EBF Cathedral Stakes, switched from its normal venue of Salisbury, was taken in fine style by champion jockey Oisin Murphy on 4/1 chance Lyzbeth by threequarters of a length ahead of Bungee Jump (9/1). The 100/30 favourite Moyassar flopped, coming in last.
Mouriyani (11/1) claimed the Coral Customers Stream UK Racing Free Handicap for the two Toms – jockey Marquand and trainer Ward.
Bright Eyed Eagle (6/4) took the Coral Shops Reopen Tomorrow In England Handicap under Murphy for Ed Walker, getting the better of the favourite Glenties (Fanning/johnston), who did seem to be hampered by the winner late in the race.
Emissary was the favourite for the last and biggest race of the day, the listed Coral/ British EBF Cocked Hat Stakes, and James Doyle looked like he was going to time a run from the back of the four-strong field nicely but a superb ride by Marquand on the Andrew Balding-trained 8/1 contender Khalifa Sat led to him holding on for the victory.
Monday’s action brought a double for trainer Watson and for jockey Rob Hornby.
Watson’s came courtesy of Kieran Shoemark winning the Coral Customers Stream UK Racing Free Online Handicap on Variyann (4/5 fav) and Adam Mcnamara taking the Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Handicap on 9/2 shot Stag Horn. Hornby won the Coral Beaten By A Length Free Bet Maiden Stakes on Bimble at 5/1 and the Coral Beaten By A Length Free Bet Handicap on 9/4 joint favourite Sir Roderic.
Perotto, Treacherous, Feathers and Hover were the day’s other winners.