Persuasion earned a favourable comparison with dual Goodwood Group-race winner Dutch Connection after making an impressive debut in the same maiden that the latter won for trainer
Charlie Hills and owner Susan Roy five years ago. The G3 Acomb Stakes, which Dutch Connection also won, is next on the agenda.
After the 16/1 chance had overcome a slow start to win by half a length from Celtic Art (14/1) and complete a 21.5/1 double for the stable, which has now had four winners at the meeting, Hills said: “He’s a lovely horse and I think he was only 16/1 because he was making his debut and most of the others had had a run or two, which is a big advantage.
“He’ll be better than ‘Dutch’ and I think he’ll go the same route now. Dutch Connection went on to York to win the Acomb Stakes, and this one is qualified there, so that’s where he’ll go. He’s got other entries, but the Acomb fits well I think.”
Hills added: “He’s been very professional in everything he’s done and his work has been good. I thought seven furlongs around here might catch him out first time out but he’s done it really well despite showing a bit of inexperience. He’s a very nice horse with a touch of class. He’s got scope and a great mind too.”
PERSUASION IMPRESSES DOYLE
James Doyle scored his third win of the 2019 Qatar Goodwood Festival when two-year-old Persuasion made a successful debut in the Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden. The son of Acclamation, who cost 220,000 guineas as a yearling, is trained by Charlie Hills and won by half a length from Celtic Art at odds of 16/1 in the seven-furlong contest.
Doyle said: “He was a bit green at the start; he leant against the back gates and when they popped open, he just went up in the air rather than forward. It wasn’t an issue; we just dropped down to the fence, and sometimes being out the back and on the fence isn’t a bad place to be, but obviously your fate depends on having a bit of luck in the straight then.
“It might not be the way to ride the track, but in these novice races it probably isn’t a bad thing. I’ve just been in a couple before when you can get lost on the turn a bit, so it meant we were able to teach him plenty today and he learnt on the job and adapted very quickly.
“I felt he was well on top in the final stages. He quickened up to the front and just pricked his ears – probably my fault, I should have kept him going, I just felt he quickened up nicely and had done enough, really.
“I really liked him. He did everything right today and when you can miss it and come from off the pace – they went hard, which helped me get into it – it is great. Charlie Hills mentioned the Acomb Stakes at York for him, and I think that would be a nice spot for him. Obviously he only has one run under his belt, but I think his mind, his attitude and manners make up for his lack of experience, or I hope they will if they decide to run him.”
4.15pm Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes 7f
1 Persuasion (Susan Roy) Charlie Hills 2-9-00 James Doyle 16/1
2 Celtic Art (Fitri Hay) Paul Cole 2-9-00 PJ McDonald 14/1
3 Great Ambassador (Jeff Smith) Ralph Beckett 2-9-00 Harry Bentley 8/1
11 ran
Time: 1m 26.01s
Distances: ½, nk
Tote Win: £22.10 Places: £4.40, £4.00, £2.20 Exacta: £288.70 Trifecta: £2,117.40
Breeding: b c Acclamation – Effervesce (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Breeder: Norelands Bloodstock
6/4 Fav King Of Athens (8th)
Charlie Hills – 20th Goodwood winner (11th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
James Doyle – 38th Goodwood winner (17th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)