Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes report and reaction

Bardwell, a former champion apprentice, has been a regular down the years in a race that raises money for charities including the Injured Jockeys Fund – but had never troubled the judge before now.

Famed for his all-action style in the saddle, Bardwell hit the front a furlong out on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Natural Colour (11/1) and looked to have the race sewn up.

Winston, however, was getting a real tune out of 3/1 joint-favourite Shining Aitch and flew close home, only to fail by the narrowest of margins.

Barry Geraghty finished sixth on Mumtaaz, with Richard Johnson fading into seventh on Greek Kodiac having helped make the running.

Bardwell, who rode in the very first Leger Legends in 2010, said: “I’m over the moon. Thanks to Saeed, what a pleasure to ride in these famous blue colours of Godolphin. I’m lost for words.

“She’s always a bit keen at home, but I knew she’d stay because it was a mile and a quarter last time. As we hit the line I thought I was beaten.

“I’ve got all my family here today – my wife, my brothers, my kids and my grandkids – so it’s a special day.

“When I got to a half-furlong to go I was out on my legs and I thought I was beat, but she’s brave and she stuck her head out all the way to the line.

“This is probably the first year that I’ve really got fit for it, I’ve been in training for six weeks in the gym, running every night.

“Today I didn’t have one drink, I had nothing to eat but a bit of toast this morning. I knew she’d give me everything and I had to be ready for her.

“This is up with the best of all my big winners.”

Former champion jump jockey Johnson said: “It was good fun – they just went a bit quicker than I did over the last two furlongs.

“It’s lovely to be here today, in this amazing weather. Fi (wife Fiona) just joked, because she obviously couldn’t come to my last race (retirement at Newton Abbot) because of Covid, that it’s quite nice she’s seen me have my proper last race now.

“It’s fantastic that Doncaster put this race on and raised a huge amount of money for the IJF and different charities.

“It’s lovely to be part of it – all the lads riding have enjoyed it, and we can go back now and have a drink and cool down.”

In different times, the now-retired Johnson would have been at Uttoxeter and not Doncaster.

Asked if he had mixed feelings, he said: “No – I had an amazing career for longer than I could every have imagined. For me, the main thing was it was my time to stop – and actually, I’ve really enjoyed life after racing.

“I still enjoy looking at the results – whether it’s Philip (Hobbs) or Henry Daly, or whoever having the winners. It’s a different type of life, but it’s nice to enjoy racing from a different side.”

Just Beautiful lives up to billing for Furtado

Just Beautiful provided Ivan Furtado with the biggest win of his career to date when running out a game victor of the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes.

Already a Listed winner at Musselburgh in June, she defied market expectations to finish a close sixth to Snow Lantern in the Falmouth Stakes. Beaten in France last time out, she was sent off the 11/4 favourite in the Group Three contest with the assistance of former champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa.

De Sousa was keen not to allow Highfield Princess an easy lead and after a couple of furlongs held a clear advantage.

By halfway De Sousa decided it was time to kick on and went a couple of lengths clear, seeing off Highfield Princess but with Double Or Bubble closing. The younger filly just had enough in reserve to see off the attentions of Double Or Bubble, though, winning by a head with Loch Lein running on for third, sparking great celebrations for her locally-based owners.

Furtado, who is based not too far from Town Moor down the A1 at Newark, said: “That was unbelievable. She’s some filly to do what she has – she’s won five out of seven, and second in a Group Three.

“She’s straightforward, and it’s great for the owners and staff at home. It’s fantastic for a small yard like ours.

“She was always a great mover, and we always liked her. But she had the handbrake on (at home) for quite a long time – she started to properly come to herself about September time (last year).

“We didn’t rush her. We always knew that she had something there – then from September time, we thought we had something special, and fortunately we did!

“She’s in at Newmarket for the Sun Chariot. But she’s done unbelievably well, and we’ll just see about the ground from now on.”

He added: “Whether she stays in training next year or goes to the broodmare sales is a question mark.

“But if the ground stays right, we will probably go to Newmarket – if not she’s probably done her job now. To have a filly like her is great, and it will probably be hard to find another one like her. I just hope it helps the team, and proves if we’ve got the right tools we can do the job.”

Of his background in the sport, Furtado said: “My grandparents and parents are cattle farmers in Brazil. I grew up riding horses, and very much as an amateur when I was about 14.

“But I was going to be too big to be a jockey. My granddad owned a few racehorses, and I went to do a business degree, had another job and didn’t enjoy it.

“I came to England for a bit of adventure, and my first trainer was Jim Old – he gave me a job, and I went from there.

“I was bitten by the bug, and I love it. Days like today make it all pay off.

“We’ve done unbelievably well, for (just) six years. We started with six horses – and we’ve got about 60 in the yard now.

“We have everything (we need at the yard). We just need the right horse, and we can deliver.

“I grew up as a farmer outside, and I can’t go inside (to work) any more now.”

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