Goodwood Saturday review: Easy does it for Al Aasy

'He has been a joy to us'

William Haggas had nothing but praise for admirable veteran Al Aasy, who came from last to first to become the second back-to-back winner of the Coral Glorious Stakes at Goodwood.

Despite being saddled with a three pounds penalty for his win at the same level in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park in April it failed to prevent the sprightly eight-year-old from following up his success in the mile and a half test from 12 months ago.

Anchored at the rear of the field by Jim Crowley, the 13/8 favourite swept to the front inside the final two furlongs past stablemate Candleford to take up a lead he would not relinquish.

Continuing to find plenty for pressure out in front the Shadwell Estate Company-owned gelding eventually crossed the line with three lengths in hand of runner-up Meydaan.

Haggas said: “He is eight years old now and in these sorts of races he is pretty effective still. If he gets too much daylight he doesn’t like it. Today he ran on very strongly as usually he pulls up a bit in front. He is just good in these sorts of races.

“He is terrific. He is a fabulous horse and he is pretty reliable in this grade when things set up like that. They didn’t go very fast today, and he usually likes a stronger pace, but they picked up well up the straight and he still found a gear.

“He has been called some names in the past, but I wish people would respect him for what he is. He is a very talented horse. You just need to wait on him. If you remember last year when he crept through on the rail that was the perfect race, but that wasn’t going to happen today.

Regarding future plans Haggas admits he won’t over face Al Aasy given his age.

He added: “I think he enjoyed a bit of cut in the ground today. We think at eight years old this is his level, maybe the odd Group Two is fine for him. He is a useful horse.

“He is a very strong traveller and you can imagine at home, when we don’t get them off the bridle he looks like Nijinsky every time. He is so reliable at home. He catches the eye every morning so he has been a joy to us.”

As for Meydaan his joint trainer Simon Crisford believes a win at this level will fall his way.

He said: “It was a big effort and I’m really happy with him. He ran with great credit and the trip is perfect for him. It was a solid race. A race like this will fall his way and he is certainly good enough for races like this. He will have a day in the sun in the near future.

“He ran well here as a three-year-old when he won the Derby trial here so he seems to get on well with Goodwood.”

Family affair seals Haggas double

There was a real family affair surrounding the victory of Sam Hawkens, who extended his recent winning run in the Coral Summer Handicap to set up a trip to Australia later in the year.

The gelded son of Galileo was purchased by Sam Haggas, son of winning trainer William, and carried the colours of his late mother Christine, owner of 1982 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Silver Buck, to glory for the third time this campaign in the £100,000 contest.

Although one of the first to be nudged along entering the home straight under Tom Marquand the 4/1 favourite responded in good fashion to put himself bang in contention approaching the final furlong.

Aeronautic and Dancing In Paris looked to hold strong challenges on either side of the four-year-old, however the market leader was always doing enough in the hands of Marquand to score by half a length and give Haggas his second winner on the card.

Haggas said: “Silver Buck was a wonderful horse and she left her colours to me when she passed away so that was great.

“Our son Sam wanted us to buy him in an online sale last year and I thought he had made a mistake. We bought him, but I didn’t really like him, so we never sold him and he ran two disappointing races. We cut him in the winter, and he has been a slow burner, but he is coming good now.

“He is a lazy horse, but Tom said he always felt comfortable and he was pretty happy with him. I was pleased with him and he has really improved this year. He went to Newcastle and won, he went to Hamilton and won, and he has come here today and won a big race so that is great.”

And a trip Down Under now rests in store for Sam Hawkens according to Haggas, who part owns Sam Hawkens.

He added: “He wouldn’t get in an Ebor, and he wouldn’t get in the consolation race. There is a race at Rosehill for him and I think he will go there. We have booked a place in quarantine on September 5th and the race is on October 18th.”

Crowley completes double

Mudbir has a way to go to match the exploits of his Group One winning siblings Mostahdaf and Nazeef, but he continued in the right direction when surviving a stewards’ inquiry to land the Whispering Angel Handicap.

After returning to winning ways at Sandown Park last time out the son of Kingman was sent off a 4/1 chance to secure a third career win from five starts in the seven furlong contest which featured a number of similar unexposed types.

Having battled his way to the front the Shadwell Estate Company Ltd-owned colt then came together inside the final furlong with eventual runner-up Dance In The Storm leading to the stewards calling an inquiry.

However, after a lengthy wait the result stood, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained runner prevailing by a short-head to complete a double on the day for winning rider Jim Crowley, which was also his 100th winner at the track.

Thady Gosden said: “I guess we touched the second inside the last furlong, but when the second came to him he picked up again. He was wandering around a little bit under pressure, but he is still relatively inexperienced and the ground today is quite holding.

“Jim pulled his stick through to his left hand to keep him straight, although he slightly touched the second in the last furlong, it wasn’t enough to affect the result.

“He ran a nice race at Sandown Park last time. It has been a nice Shadwell family as the mare Handassa has foaled two Group One winners so far and he is a colt that is improving.

“He has a lot of speed, as has the rest of the family. Hopefully he will keep on going in the right direction.”

As for Andrew Balding, trainer of the runner-up, he thought the result might get changed on account of the late interference.

He said: “She ran with a lot of credit. David [Probert] was fairly confident we would get it, but it is an independent decision and that is it.”

Elementary for Newton

Isaac Newton confirmed the promise of his debut second at the Curragh when going one better in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Camelot was sent off an 8/13 chance to make his second racecourse appearance a winning one.

And although taking time to warm to the task he was not to let down his legion of supporters after prevailing under Ryan Moore by a neck.

Moore said: “He had a very good run the first day at the Curragh and the third horse has won at Galway just now so the form looked fairly good.

“I suppose seven furlongs on this track was probably not ideal for him. They went a good gallop and he did everything right. He got into a nice rhythm and stayed onto the line going well. He showed a good attitude and I was very happy with what he did today.

“He is a straightforward horse that will continue to improve race to race.”

Following the race Paddy Power left Isaac Newton unchanged at 50/1 for next year's Betfred Derby.

Gladius tidings to end a frustrating week

The Festival signed off on a good note for favourite backers as the closing Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap panned out perfectly for the well-backed Gladius (11/8 favourite).

Whip Cracker emerged from the chasing pack to throw down a strong challenge inside the final half furlong but couldn't get past William Buick and his willing partner who prevailed by a head.

The pair pulled a length and a half clear of Linwood in third with Indalo another length back in fourth.

Winning trainer Andrew Balding said: “He’s had to do it the hard way, he was posted a little bit wide, but William has done a lovely job.

"He’s a lovely horse, he doesn’t show a huge amount at home so each time we’ve run him it’s been a pleasant surprise and hopefully he can keep going because he keeps improving.

“He’s won a handicap today off 94 and we’ll probably go for another handicap in my opinion but we need to discuss that with his partners. I think he’s probably better on slightly quicker ground but he’s definitely going the right way.”

Buick added: "He knuckled down well. The ground out there, it’s the last race of five days so it’s tiring, tacky and hard work.

"He really kept finding and when the second horse came to him I think he found again. He’s a good straightforward horse that I think will keep on improving. He’s very easy to ride, you can place him anywhere, he’ll relax and then he’s there for you when you need him.

“It’s been a frustrating week. It’s a hard week, it always is. It wasn’t the week I envisaged but we move on.”

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