Showing admirable enthusiasm for racing after a lengthy lay-off, eight-year-old Master Milliner won the opening Coral Goodwood Handicap for a second time.
Two years ago he provided trainer Emma Lavelle with a first success at the meeting in the two-and-a-half-mile contest, and today he did the same for jockey Charlie Bishop.
In between the two victories, he spent 640 days on the sidelines and, after two unplaced runs earlier this season, was sent off at odds of 25/1. However, he ran out a comfortable winner, scoring by almost two lengths from Premiere Ligne, with Single a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
The 9/2 joint-favourite Kyle Of Lochalsh was fourth, while the other market leader, Temporize, who won the race last year, finished eighth of the 18 runners.
Bishop said: “Master Milliner is a credit to Emma and her team. To get him back at the age he is – obviously two years on from winning the race here – but he’s had a couple of runs this season, which has probably helped him strip fitter. I did think these extreme distances probably really help him now that he’s older. That went very much to plan until I hit the front too soon, but luckily he kept going.
“I said to Emma that I would try walking in front [at the start] and then sit where I was happy, just because it’s way easier to come back and get a position than try and make up ground once you have jumped off. He’s a very laid-back horse – he walked in, stood there and popped off – and he made my life very easy. He settled brilliantly and it all went to plan, probably too smoothly as I got there two out rather than the furlong-pole. But he got the job done.
“I actually pop into Emma’s once a week and get on with her very well. She’s very kind to me and we have been waiting for a nice Flat winner. It’s all paying off now.”
Winning owner Bill Simpson said: “Master Milliner has had a chequered history health wise – he had meningitis when he was three. Not many horses come through that but we were very patient with him.
“Last year Emma noticed that he wasn’t quite right, so we gave him a year off and this year he’s come back. He needed the runs before, but it’s a wonderful piece of training by Emma Lavelle and a fabulous ride by Charles. We were very confident that he still had the interest and the ability, so it’s just a wonderful day.
“I think a lot of people would probably have given up when he was in hospital for ten days or more, costing a fortune, but it does make it very, very sweet for him to come back and run like that and break the course record apparently.
“He’s a fabulous horse and we’ll keep him forever because he’ll make a fabulous dressage horse at some stage.”
Hughie Morrison said of Premiere Ligne and Kyle Of Lochalsh: “We have to be thrilled with Premiere Ligne. While I freely admit that it wasn’t my decision to go for the two and a half mile –Matt Coleman who bought him said, why don’t you have a go? I have been complaining ever since. David [Egan] said he was the best horse in the race, he just wouldn’t go past the first one, as you have noticed in his past three runs. But great to have a horse like that, Cesarewitchs and things like that come on the agenda. Kyle Of Lochalsh, from the moment he started, didn’t look comfortable on the ground. He will go on it, but he’s obviously a better horse with a bit of juice in the ground. And 9st 12lb for a four-year-old over two and a half miles is huge weight to carry. Top weight was always going to be hard, but he’s run well. Roll on the autumn.”
Single’s trainer Jack Channon said: “Absolutely chuffed. She has been plying her trade at a mile and six, but the key to her is the pace of the race, and they’ve gone a good one today, and it’s just allowed her to chill out and settle. She’s hit the line strong and run an absolute cracker – can’t complain. She’s a tricky filly to campaign because whenever they go slow, she’s got no chance. The trip doesn’t matter, it’s how quick they go. That suited her today and she’s run her heart out. She’s got plenty of ability and if they go hard, she’s quite a decent filly.”