Trainer Mark Johnston closed to within one of Sir Michael Stoute’s record number of Qatar Festival winners when Sir Ron Priestley won the Unibet Handicap.
The three-year-old became Johnston’s 79th winner at the famous meeting, and also his 49th success in July, extending the British record for winners in one month that he set on Monday at Ayr.
Sir Ron Priestley (6/1), the mount of Franny Norton, beat Durston (13/2) and Eminence (8/1) by a neck and three and a quarter lengths in the mile-and-a-half contest.
Johnston endured a rare blank day yesterday, and he said: “It was a very frustrating day, not just because it was without a win, but we had three seconds and two by very short margins. It’s great to get back on the scoresheet.
“He [Sir Ron Priestley] is an ideal sort for this type of race – he’s raced a fair bit, but is very much on the upgrade, so it’s not a great surprise that he’s won.
“The owner has just reminded me that he’s in on Saturday [in the Qatar Summer Handicap over a mile and six furlongs], but I don’t know where we will go next. We’ll see how the horse is and what the handicapper does. Good horses racing over this type of trip need to be given a bit of time to make sure you are not going back to the well too often.
“He is in the St Leger, but it was a very borderline decision. We think he’s almost that type of horse, and he’s shown today that he was worth the entry, but he has a bit to go to prove he’s up to that class. The trip and conditions [at Doncaster] would suit, but you need a Group One horse for that race.
“He hasn’t proved he’s that good yet.”
PRIESTLEY IS GOODWOOD’S MOST WANTED
Mark Johnston and Franny Norton teamed up to land the £75,000 Unibet Handicap with 6/1 shot Sir Ron Priestley.
The three-year-old son of Australia knuckled down gamely in the closing stages of the 12-furlong event to score by a neck from the David Simcock-trained Durston (13/2) in second.
Norton said: “Sir Ron Priestley was a bit slow on his feet today. We were coming back in trip, but we did not think that was going to inconvenience him.
“He has had one blip all year and the rest of the time he has done nothing wrong. He rides the race for you and you are just a passenger really.
“Sir Ron Priestly just kept sticking his neck out. Had anything else come to me, he would have stuck his neck out again.
“He is just one of those real hardy, progressive horses. I am having a good year but you can’t fail to when you are riding for Mark Johnston – he trains winners for fun and I am lucky enough to be part of the team.”
SIMCOCK HAPPY WITH DURSTON
Durston pleased trainer David Simcock with his second place in the Unibet Handicap. Sent off at 13/2, the son of Sea The Moon came home a neck adrift of the 6/1 winner Sir Ron Priestley.
Simcock commented: “The winner took a lot of passing, but I am happy with the run.”
Result
2.25pm Unibet Handicap, 1m 3f 218y
1 Sir Ron Priestley (Paul Dean) Mark Johnston 3-9-04 Franny Norton 6/1
2 Durston (Highclere Thoroughbred Racing) David Simcock 3-8-08 Silvestre de Sousa 13/2
3 Eminence (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-01 Ryan Moore 8/1
11/2 fav Desert Icon (8th)
13 ran
Time: 2m 37.17s
Distances: nk, 3¼
Tote Win: £6.60 Places: £2.40, £2.10, £2.30 Exacta: £44.80
Breeding: ch c Australia (GB) – Reckoning (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Breeder: Mascalls Stud
Mark Johnston – 148th Goodwood winner (79th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
Franny Norton – 37th Goodwood winners (13th at Qatar Goodwood Festival