Ruth Carr and James Sullivan both enjoyed a first ever Goodwood winner when nine-year-old Poyle Vinnie (20/1) made up for Tuesday’s narrow defeat by getting up near the finish of the £75,000 Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap to beat Venturous (16/1) a neck, with last year’s winner Tommy G (8/1) third in a finish in which the first five were all trained in the North of England or in Scotland.
Carr could not be present as she had runners to saddle at Thirsk, but the significance of her success will not be lost on her as her grandfather David Chapman excelled with sprinters and won the Stewards’ Cup with Soba in 1982.
For Sullivan success was especially sweet after Tuesday’s defeat, and after what has been an exceptionally busy week on the road, even by jockey standards.
Sullivan said: “I think it was his first time over six furlongs this year. He was unlucky here the first day over five, when he travelled, looked like the winner everywhere and just got nabbed late on by PJ McDonald.
“Ruth has done a great job getting this lad ready. She took the blinkers off and put cheekpieces on, which gave me a chance to settle him early on.
“You are riding your own race out there. All I wanted to do was settle early on and I got him settled. When you start finding, you are looking for something to race with. I saw the far side was a bit ahead of but I was using Mr Barron’s horse (Venturous) to get me to the line. The two of us went on together and this lad has battled down and did it well.”
Reflecting on his week, Yorkshire-based Sullivan revealed: “I was at Ayr last Sunday, then I drove down here for Tuesday and then back up to Redcar the next day. Then I went from Redcar to Epsom, and then from Epsom back up to Scotland for Musselburgh yesterday before coming back here.
“I don’t know how many miles that is, but a winner at the end of the week makes it all worthwhile. He’s a legend of a horse and he’s very consistent.”
BENTLEY FRUSTRATED TO FINISH SECOND
Jockey Harry Bentley was somewhat frustrated to finish second in the Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap aboard the David Barron-trained 16/1 chance Venturous, a neck behind winner Poyle Vinnie.
“Very frustrating run. He’s a horse that needs plenty of cover and needs to be taken there late on, and the pace collapsed in front of me,” said Harry.
Barron was more philosophical, saying: “We don’t get a re-run! It was a good run. We can’t complain – we’re in the money.”
Scottish-based Jim Goldie trained the third and fourth-placed horses, 8/1 shot Tommy G – the 2018 winner of this race – and Primo’s Comet (50/1).
Tommy G was ridden by Silvestre de Sousa and finished a length and three-quarters behind Venturous, with Primo’s Comet (David Egan) three-quarters of a length further back.
Goldie said: “I’m chuffed to bits with the two of them. They ran a blinder. I thought Tommy G was going to do it again, but possibly the draw [20] was a wee bit against him. The two that beat him were drawn towards the middle, but he ran a blinder. My two were drawn together. Obviously we came to finish first and second, but I’m delighted. The reality of these races is that there is little between the horses, and the draw and ground may be significant.
“It’s great to come down here and get into the winner’s enclosure. It’s a long way to come if you don’t! I do think if we’d had the middle draw they would have been hard to catch.”
GOING AFTER THE FIRST
James Sullivan, on board the 20/1 neck winner Poyle Vinnie, said: “Lovely.”
Harry Bentley, jockey of 16/1 second-placed Venturous, said: “Quick.”
Silvestre de Sousa, jockey of the third Tommy G (8/1), said: “Good to firm, and well watered.”
David Egan, jockey of the 50/1 fourth home Primo’s Comet, said: “Good.”
Scott McCullagh, rider of Gabrial The Saint, said: “Lovely ground.”
Tony Hamilton, jockey of Brian The Snail, said: “Good.”
Cieren Fallon, partner of Blue De Vega, said: “Good.”
Shane Kelly, on board Puds, said: “Fast.”
Phil Dennis, jockey of Duke Of Firenze, said: “The same as yesterday.”
Pat Dobbs, on board Count Otto, said: “A bit loose, too much water.”
Ben Curtis, rider of Dark Shot, said: “Quick.”
Frankie Dettori, jockey of Gabrial The Devil, said: “The same as yesterday – good to firm.”
Jack Garritty, partner of Powerallied, said: “Lovely ground.”
Ryan Moore, rider of Boy In The Bar, said: “Watered ground.”
Jim Crowley, jockey of Tinto, said: “Good to firm, and a bit loose on top.”
James Doyle, partner of Ballyquin, said: “Good.”
Joe Fanning, rider of Paddy Power, said: “There is a bit of juice in it.”
Richard Kingscote, jockey of Secretinthepark, said: “Good ground.”
PJ McDonald, on board Get The Rhythm, said: “Good.”
Jason Watson, partner of Lightning Charlie, said: “Loose.”
William Carver, on board King Robert, said: “Good – nice ground.”
Laura Coughlan, partner of Somewhere Secret, said: “Good.”
1.50pm Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap 6f
1 Poyle Vinnie (Formulated Polymer Products Ltd) Ruth Carr 9-9-05 James Sullivan 20/1
2 Venturous (Laurence O’Kane/Harrowgate Bloodstock Ltd) David Barron 6-9-05 Harry Bentley 16/1
3 Tommy G (Johnnie Delta Racing) Jim Goldie 6-8-11 Silvestre De Sousa 8/1
4 Primo’s Comet (The Reluctant Suitor’s) Jim Goldie 4-8-08 David Egan 50/1
23 ran
Time: 1m 10.65s
Distances: nk, 1¾, ¾
Tote Win: £24.20 Places: £5.70, £4.50, £2.10, £17.20 Exacta: £383.30 Trifecta:£3,515.20
Breeding: b g Piccolo – Poyle Dee Dee (Oasis Dream)
Breeder: Cecil And Miss Alison Wiggins
7/1 Joint-Favs Puds (11th) & Gabrial The Devil (19th)
Ruth Carr – 1st Goodwood winner (1st at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
James Sullivan – 1st Goodwood winner (1st at Qatar Goodwood Festival)