Magnolia Springs is in command at Goodwood
Magnolia Springs is in command at Goodwood

Review of the action from Thursday's meeting at Goodwood


A review of the action from Thursday's meeting at Goodwood where Magnolia Springs won the feature Height Of Fashion Stakes.

Springs scales Goodwood Heights

Magnolia Springs came from last to first to take the Listed spoils in the netbet.co.uk Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood.

The daughter of Shamardal had failed to live up to her emphatic debut success at Newbury last season in two subsequent starts, but bounced back to brighten up the murky conditions when stepped up to a mile and a quarter.

Charles Bishop chose to keep the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained filly at the rear of the field on the rain-softened ground, as Herecomesthesun made the running.

After weaving through the pack, Magnolia Springs (11-4) hit the front inside the final furlong and pulled away to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Shaherezada. Herecomesthesun plugged on for third spot.

"Since Newbury she hasn't got wild, but she forgot how to run," said Johnson Houghton. "She needed to learn how to race properly. It all came so easy first time out she didn't know what she had done and I think the next two races she thought 'what is going on?'.

"We were determined to drop her in and make her race properly this time. We are absolutely thrilled with her. She has come from a long way off the pace and I know it's a good pace. She cruised into it really well and handled the track. I've no idea where we go from here. We will get home, talk to the owner and make a plan.

"She had no entry at Royal Ascot, as I just wanted to make sure she could race properly. She loves the trip and probably will get further, but we will stick to a mile and two at the moment. She is only going to improve, as she is very unfurnished still. We could quite possibly take her abroad, maybe to France or Ireland, as the owners are based in Ireland."

Ascot next for Mutawaffer

Mutawaffer booked his ticket to Royal Ascot when getting off the mark at the second attempt in the European Breeders Fund Novice Stakes at Goodwood.

Fourth on his debut just 12 days earlier, the 160,000 guineas purchase made all the running when stepping up to six furlongs. The Kodiac colt broke smartly and Jim Crowley was able to grab the near rail from his good draw.

Mutawaffer (5-4 favourite) kept on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths from Shaybani. Li Kui, who was short of room at a crucial stage, was two and three-quarter lengths back in third place.

Trainer Charlie Hills is thinking of dropping Mutawaffer back to the minimum trip at the Royal meeting.

"He has shown a lot of speed there, and has really woken up from his first run," said Hills. "He'll definitely go to Ascot now, as there is a nice time between now and then. We've got to decide which race we go for and, at the moment, I'll probably bring him back to five (furlongs) and the Norfolk would be the favourite. He's naturally a very fast horse. He's got a good action and a good mind as well."

Mutawaffer impresses at Goodwood
Mutawaffer impresses at Goodwood

Dreams back to form

Love Dreams left his last effort at the track well behind when making all in the South Downs Water Handicap.

Having finished down the field at the Sussex track two starts ago start, the son of Dream Ahead went one better than at York when sticking to the task well from the front in the seven-furlong prize.

Winning trainer Mark Johnston said of the 9-4 chance: "He had a good run at York in between his two starts here. They just went crazy fast last time here. I can't remember where he was drawn, as I had Masham Star in as well and one was drawn badly.

"He was set alight early on and they just went far too fast. We weren't really put off by the track and we were happy it would be different today and he is obviously in good form. We will keep him entered up and go wherever the opportunity arise."

Love Dreams is in control at Goodwood
Love Dreams is in control at Goodwood

Double delight for Moore

Canberra Cliffs gained her first victory since switching to Gary Moore as she came with a well-timed late run to take the EBF "Breeders Series" Fillies' Handicap.

After filling the runner-up spot at Brighton on her debut for the Lower Beeding handler 23 days ago, the four-year-old took top honours when seeing the 12-furlong trip out best ofall to hold rallying favourite Lady Bergamot at bay by a neck.

Moore said of the 9-1 winner: "She has improved for the step up in trip. She was given a very good ride. I just hope she can progress from here. I wasn't really concerned about the trip, as long as she settled, but she didn't settle that well. She settles at home lovely. I think they didn't go fast enough for her, it was a fairly moderate pace. That would be our aim, to get some black type."

Canberra Cliffs (green silks) battles to victory
Canberra Cliffs (green silks) battles to victory

Sing Out Loud (9-2) completed a quickfire double for Moore - and a brace for Crowley - when coming from almost last to first to land the Frescobaldi Handicap.

Moore said: "He is just a very nice horse by my standards. He ran very well at Ascot and I thought he would need that run and he has put it right today. He was doing his best work late on and I thought we would need to step him up in trip.

"Jim said he relaxed lovely for him today and it's allowed him to get home. I'd say he will get about a mile and a quarter and that will be his lot."

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