Goodwood May Festival Day 3: Moon shines - and so do Observer tips
The Sir Michael Stoute star was one of three winners tipped on this site on Saturday morning - giving 10 wins from 21 races over the three days, an impressive strike rate.
But Ryan Moore had it far from all his own way on the 2/7 favourite, whose record of third place in last year’s St Leger and a Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up spot frightened off plenty of potential rivals to leave a field of just four.
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Hide AdMoore set off at a sedate pace, with Cill Rialaig for company, and the Hughie Morrison-trained mare proved hard to shake off and was upsides three furlongs out.
But Moore, on the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt, was soon back in control, only for Dandino to pose a serious challenge in the Southern Daily Echo-sponsored race.
Hayley Turner’s mount looked to head the market leader over a furlong out, but Sea Moon battled back for a head success.
Trainer Stoute said: “He’s just needed the workout. We were ready to run at Chester andhad been hanging about a bit and he’s got a bit buzzy. He’s won and that’s good. He’s got a whole lot of entries and the Hardwicke [at Royal Ascot] will be his next engagement.”
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Hide AdThe triumph made it a double for Moore, who had earlier taken the EBF Anthony Simmons Maiden Stakes (Sponsored By Telecom UK) on the Richard Hannon-trained debutant Mister Marc (7-2) - also tipped by the Observer.
Hannon also saddled Sputnik Sweetheart (7-2) to victory in the Brighton Argus Maiden Fillies’ Stakes to complete our treble and make it eight wins in the final two days of the successful festival.
The 32Red.com Handicap saw a battle royale between Life And Soul and Grumeti, with the former prevailing by a short head.
Pulborough trainer Amanda Perrett’s five-year-old Life And Soul (7-1) was soon in front for Turner, but she had to hold off a big challenge from Grumeti.
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Hide AdJet Away, another in the Abdullah colours, was a comfortable winner of the 32Red Festival Stakes under Tom Queally.
A step up in trip and return to a quicker surface did the trick as Grandeur (4-1 joint-favourite) claimed the 32Red Casino Handicap under William Buick, still in great form the day after taking the Casco Cocked Hat Stakes with Michelangelo.
Jamie Osborne’s Beat The Bell (14-1) kept on strongly down the centre of the track to score in the Hampshire Chronicle Handicap, beating 7-2 joint-favourite My Kingdom by three-quarters of a length.
See all the reaction and pictures from the festival - and Goodwood MD Adam Waterworth’s Diary from the Downs - in the Observer on Thursday.