Trainer Roger Varian got off the mark for the 2019 Qatar Goodwood Festival when Aktau landed a gamble and won the TDN Australia Handicap under Andrea Atzeni.
The Teofilo gelding, sent off the 5/2 favourite, beat Sapa Inca by a length and three-quarters.
Varian said: “He’s a little bit green; he’s a big, raw horse who is looking better with every run. I thought he came into it well; a bit slow away, sluggish to get into his stride, but the further the race unfolded the better went. Hopefully this horse’s best days are still ahead of him. We like him quite a lot and he’s getting the hang of the job now.
“He had a little physical issue where we had to give him time, and, turning a negative into a positive, he’s a big-framed horse and the time has only helped him. Hopefully that little midsummer break will set him up for a good autumn.
“I know this is only 11 furlongs, but I think he will stay well and maybe we will look at something like the Melrose at York if he comes out of this well. He’d love the track; we’ll see, we might not need to go that far yet. We’ve got loads of options. I don’t think he’d like soft ground, so I’m glad the ground dried up for him. We’re pleased with today.”
RESULT
5.15pm TDN Australia Handicap, 1m 3f 44y
1 Aktau (Nurlan Bizakov, Keith Allen, Gerald Moss) Roger Varian 3-9-02 Andrea Atzeni 5/2 fav
2 Sapa Inca (China Horse Club International Limited) Mark Johnston 3-9-01 Franny Norton 14/1
3 Harrovian (HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing) John Gosden 3-9-07 Frankie Dettori 4/1
13 ran
Time: 2m 23.4s
Distances: 1¾, ½
Tote Win: £3.60 Places: £1.70, £3.80, £1.70 Exacta: £43.80
Breeding: b g Teofilo (IRE) – Rare Ransom (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Breeder: Hesmonds Stud Ltd
Roger Varian – 14th Goodwood winner (5th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
Andrea Atzeni – 31st Goodwood winner (13th at Qatar Goodwood Festival)