3 minute read
Tom Marquand once again showcased his talents from off the front when partnering Sumo Sam to success in the Qatar Lillie Langtry.
The 25/1 chance was due to be ridden by Neil Callan but due to Callan not being able to do the weight Marquand stepped in to take the ride.
John and Thady Gosden had already enjoyed a fruitful Saturday with Sweet William taking the preceding race at Goodwood and Sweet Memories landing the Listed British EBF 40th Anniversary Chalice Stakes at Newmarket. The Newmarket powerhouse stable would have been hoping for further success on the Sussex Downs as Free Wind was sent off the 10/11 market leader and although Dettori looked confident throughout much of the contest, his mount failed to pick up in the testing conditions and was ultimately well beaten back in fourth.
It might have been a ride that resembled Quickthorn's Goodwood Cup victory, but it was a fine front-running ride nevertheless as Tom Marquand controlled the sensibly steady fractions throughout.
Marquand kicked for home in the straight and the Paul and Oliver Cole-trained filly responded in terrific fashion. The margin continued to grow between her and her rivals as the daughter of Nathaniel ploughed through the mud to score by an eventual eight and a half lengths.
River Of Stars kept on best of the rest to finish back in second while Time Lock picked up her first placing at Group level by finishing third.
Marquand said: "I'd be lying if I said I did any research into the race. I came back in from the last race and they said, 'can you do 8st 11lb?' so I jumped aboard. I've seen plenty of her and was due to ride her on the day I got kicked at the Guineas weekend. I watched her go and finish second and it looked like she wanted a trip.
"Mr Cole and Ollie [Paul and Ollie Cole, trainers] were keen to go and make it a solid test, and as the other day showed [when he won the Qatar Goodwood Cup from the front on Quickthorn] if you find a rhythm in front it's a hard track to get horses back. She's done well, and while she was getting tired in the last half furlong the damage was already done.
"It would be amazing to be top jockey at this meeting. Ever since I was an apprentice with Richard Hannon Goodwood has been at the forefront and one of the biggest weeks of the year. It would be special to win. Ryan [Moore] pipped me a couple of years ago which was frustrating. It's been a fantastic week regardless of that, but it would be nice to have my name up on the board."
Joint trainer Oliver Cole said: "We've done a lot of stalls work with her since her last run - she's gone in twice a week. In her last two races she's been left and that hasn't been helpful. She takes a lot of pushing in and a lot of cajoling, and the stalls handlers make it look so easy. We're always standing a few lengths behind because we don't want to get booted!
"Full credit to the team at home, and thanks very much to the guys at the stalls who are the unsung heroes. They do what a lot of us wouldn't do so full credit to them. Also, to the boys who have ridden her in the stalls at home, because I know I wouldn't ride her.
"I was as confident as you can be with the ground because you never know how they will go through it, but she's gone through it like a really, really good horse. Someone said to me a few weeks ago if you want to get the best out of that horse leave her until next year, so this just shows you have to persist with horses. They are not there to be decorations.
"We'll see how she comes out of this, but we have lots of options. She wasn't stopping at the end, and potentially she has the class [for a Cup race]. Our horses have come into form and we're having a lovely Goodwood."
