Noble Mission, Chachamaidee star at Glorious Goodwood
opener
Noble Mission, a brother to mighty Frankel, landed Tuesday’s Group 3 Gordon
Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Owned and bred like Frankel by Prince Khalid
Abdulla, and similarly trained and ridden by Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally,
Noble Mission is not as good as his older sibling, but victory in the contest
stamps him as well above average.
“He’s improved mentally as much as physically and looking at him in the
paddock you could see he is much more the finished article. He’s acting much
more sensibly and professionally. It was a really good effort today,” said Lord
Grimthorpe, Prince Khalid’s racing manager.
Ladbrokes, who sponsor the St Leger, Britain’s oldest and final classic of
the season, cut Noble Mission to 14-1 from 20-1 for that event.
“That race is a possibility, but I think Sir Henry will want to take the
horse to York for the (Group 2) Great Voltigeur Stakes (August 22) to test those
credentials further,” Grimthorpe said.
“It was hugely important to win a group race with this horse for a number of
reasons. His dam, Kind, has now produced three group winners from three foals
which is pretty remarkable, but it’s also important for the family and for him
as a potential stallion — it’s really what Juddmonte is all about.”
The lightly-raced Encke posted a tremendous effort to lose out by just a nose
to Noble Mission and will head to York’s Ebor meeting next to boost his
racecourse experience.
“We’re delighted with that. We’ll head towards the Great Voltigeur — that’s
his next port of call,” Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said. “He ran
really well. Stepping up to a mile and a half has helped him. He’s just a little
bit short on experience but that will come with time.”
John Gosden, who trains Michelangelo for Bjorn Nielsen, said of the colt’s
third-place finish, “He’s won here but he did get a bit unbalanced on the track.
He should go to the St Leger — flat track. He’ll have one more run then the
Leger.
“I was third in this race with (St Leger winner) Arctic Cosmos so it doesn’t
bother me. I did not expect him to win today.”
Cecil completed a quick double on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood when
Noble Mission’s victory was complemented by that of Chachamaidee in the featured
Group 2 Lennox Stakes. Queally was in the saddle once again, this time wearing
the colors of owner Tony Evans.
“It’s great to have a winner at Glorious Goodwood and Chachamaidee won here
last year when taking the (Group 3) Oak Tree Stakes on the Friday. Now she’s won
a Group 3 and a Group 2 so it would be nice to win a Group 1 — she has plenty
of entries and I’ve spoken to Sir Henry about possibilities, but I’ll leave the
decisions to him,” Evans said.
Trainer Richard Hannon was delighted with Libranno’s run when finishing
second in the Lennox.
“We had a bit of trouble in running, which you expect around here, and
although the winner was always going to win I think we might have been a better
second than we were,” Hannon said. “Richard (Hughes) said he’s as tough as
nails, which he is, and I might stick him in the (Group 1) Prix de la Foret at
Longchamp in October. The seven furlongs there would suit him.”
The 11-year-old Mac Love looked as good as ever when finishing third,
thrilling trainer Roger Charlton.
“Faster ground would have suited him even better and he ran a fantastic
race,” Charlton said. “It was his 77th start and it’s amazing to think he was
seventh behind Iffraaj in this race six years ago and the winner is a stallion
now.
A fast-and-furious race deserves a gripping finish, and that was the treat
for racegoers watching the Molecomb Stakes for two-year-olds.
After five furlongs just a head separated the first two, with 14-1 chance
Bungle Inthejungle pocketing the spoils from 2-1 favorite Morawij. A further 3
3/4 lengths lengths back was third-placed Hototo.
“We fancied him at Ascot last time but he ended up all on his own on the far
side,” trainer Mick Channon said. “But we had the draw and a bit going for us
today. This had been the target for some time and the other horse got his neck
in front but we outbattled him. I’m pleased with that and we’ll probably go for
the (Group 2) Flying Childers (at Doncaster September 14).
Owner-breeder Chris Wright, who founded Chrysalis Records, said, “He’s named
after a song by Jethro Tull, who were almost the first group I signed. I’ve
named quite a few horses after songs over the years and I was pleased to get the
prize from Henry Kelly, who used to work for me.”
“It’s a bit disappointing not to win but I don’t believe the horse did much
wrong and I feel he’s still improving,” trainer Roger Varian said of Morawij.
He’s a very powerful horse. He could well go back up in trip and race over six
furlongs next in the (Group 2) Gimcrack Stakes (on August 24) — it’s a flat,
easy, fast six at York, and that could well suit him. That race will certainly
be under consideration.”
The Gimcrack or the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York are possible targets
for Hototo, trainer Kevin Ryan said.
“I’m delighted with him — he stripped a lot sharper today than he did at
Newbury and the ground suited him, but he just didn’t come down the hill as well
he might,” he said. “He was all at sea on that part of the course, and at the
furlong pole you would have thought he would be fifth or sixth, but when he hit
the rising ground he found his legs again.
“He stayed on really well but the race had gone — at this track if you’re
not within a half-length or neck when it matters you have no chance.
“He’ll probably run in one of the two York races. We did feel that after
today we would step up to six, and with hindsight I probably should have had him
in the (Group 2) Richmond Stakes (on Thursday) over six furlongs. He’s been a
wonderful horse who loves going racing and is very easy to train.”
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