NEWS
Finjaan, Monsieur Chevalier impressive at Goodwood
Posted: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 4:02 PM
by Mike Curry
With heavily favored Main Aim and second betting choice J J the Jet Plane clearly beaten in the final furlong, Finjaan took charge with a furious rally and powered to a half-length score in the Betfair Lennox Stakes (Eng-G2), the feature race on Tuesday, opening day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s homebred Finjaan flashed talent last year at the Goodwood meet with a win in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes (Eng-G3). He also finished third as a juvenile last season in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1).
After Finjaan’s disappointing ninth-place finish in the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) to start his three-year-old campaign, the Royal Applause (GB) colt missed training after a low-grade infection swept through trainer Marcus Tregoning’s yard.
His return proved well worth the wait, as Finjaan surged to victory with a visually impressive turn of foot under Tadhg O’Shea, completing seven furlongs in 1:26.46 on turf rated as good.
"It's been worse than a nightmare this season, but I'm lucky I've got such patient owners like Sheikh Hamdan,” Tregoning told Racing Post. "It's been very difficult since May, we had the virus and it took a while to get over it.
"This horse is so relaxed and so settled, he's had a nice time today so hopefully he can go on.”
Out of the winning Dayjur mare Alhufoof, Finjaan improved to three wins in seven starts. Multiple Grade 1 winner Cheval Volant is Finjaan’s grandam, and 2000 Sagitta One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) winner Lahan (GB) is a member of the immediate family.
Multiple group stakes winner Balthazaar’s Gift finished one length clear of Regal Parade for second. South African champion sprinter J J the Jet Plane faded to seventh in the eight-horse field, and 6-to-5 favorite Main Aim was last after setting the pace.
Favorite romps in Molecomb
Monsieur Chevalier rallied from last-to-first under Richard Hughes in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes (Eng-G3) to win for the sixth time in seven starts for trainer Richard Hannon.
After he was steadied at the start, the two-year-old Chevalier colt passed five opponents in the final furlong with a stunning burst of finishing speed to prevail by 1¼ lengths. Monsieur Chevalier completed five furlongs in :58.24 to post his first group stakes win for owners Valerie Hubbard and Ian Higginson.
The Blue Square Casino National Stakes winner rebounded from a fifth-place finish in the Norfolk Stakes (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot with a win in a conditions race at Newbury in his previous start on July 18.
Harbinger of greater things to come
Lightly raced Harbinger dominated his stakes debut with a 1 3/4-length victory in the Betfair Gordon Stakes (Eng-G3).
Ridden by Ryan Moore, who won a pair of races on the Goodwood opener, Harbinger drove to the lead with about a quarter-mile left in the 1 1/2-mile race and shook free to win as the favorite. The Dansili (GB) colt completed the distance in 2:39.98 to improve to two wins and one second in three career starts for owner Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
Rip Van Winkle questionable for Sussex
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said the much-anticipated showdown between his Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1) runner-up Rip Van Winkle and classic-winning filly Ghanaati in the BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) on Wednesday could be in jeopardy.
The one-mile race also drew Group 1-winning older foe Paco Boy, but Rip Van Winkle could be a race-time decision because of a minor hind hoof injury.
"We discovered this afternoon that Rip Van Winkle had a slight problem with a hind hoof,” O’Brien said. “We will check him out in the morning, and it’s possible that he will travel to Goodwood and a decision be made after he gets there.”
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1)
July 29, $428,069, 3yo&up, 1mT, Goodwood
The field, in post position order, with weight, (sire), jockey, and trainer:
1. Mia’s Boy, 133, (Pivotal), Ryan Moore, Chris Dwyer;
2. Rip Van Winkle, 125, (Galileo [Ire]), Johnny Murtagh, Aidan O’Brien;
3. Beacon Lodge, 133, (Clodovil), C. G. Cox, Adam Kirby;
4. Malibu Bay, 125, (El Prado [Ire]), Sean Levey, Aidan O’Brien;
5. Ghanaati, 122, (Giant’s Causeway), Richard Hills, Barry Hills;
6. Lord Shanakill, 125, (Speightstown), Jim Crowley, Karl Burke;
7. Paco Boy, 133, (Desert Style), Richard Hughes, Richard Hannon;
8. Forgotten Voice, 133, (Danehill Dancer), Frankie Dettori, Jeremy Noseda; and
9. Lahaleeb, 122, (Redback), Darryll Holland, Mick Channon
