Goodwood, England: Godolphin were narrowly denied a second successive victory in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes on Tuesday when 50-1 outsider Breton Rock produced an electric burst in the closing stages of the six furlong contest to win by half a length.
Home Of The Brave, ridden by James Doyle in the famous Royal blue Godolphin silks, shot to the front with about a furlong to run and appeared to have had the race won, until Andrea Atzeni aboard the winner came flying home.
Suedois, another long-shot ridden by Daniel Tudhope for David O’Meara, was a short-head third while favourite Limato, the mount of big-race jockey Frankie Dettori, was a nose back in fourth.
Trained by David Simcock, the veteran sprinter Breton Rock, who cost a modest £20,000 (Dh97,098), was landing a fourth Group race victory following his last success at the top level at Doncaster at the end of last season.
“I didn’t expect this at all. I dropped him out last to pick up the pieces, but he picked them all up,” said Atzeni who won three of the first four races on the opening day of Goodwood.
“I felt they went quick early which suited my horse nicely. I kinda knew I was going to win from some way out.”
Winning handler Simcock added: “That was special, the horse’s owner [John Cook] has been with me from day one so to win a race like this means everything.
“He’s given us a lot of satisfaction and every year he wins us a nice race, he’s wonderful to have around.
“It was a nice surprise and from his draw [15] we bit the bullet. Did we expect to win? No. Did we expect to pick up the pieces? Yes.”
Hugo Palmer was full of praise for the runner-up Home Of The Brave, who he trains for Godolphin, and plans to take to America at the end of the year for the Thoroughbred Racing Championships.
“He does seem to be getting better with age and he’s done a lot of admirable things, but he’s not done enough to be whisked off to stud,” he said.
“With a bit of luck and fair wind he might be back for a third crack next year. It was a huge run but we were never going to get a soft lead which was probably the difference.
“He’ll have a nice break now and go for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.”
Later in the afternoon on a day of big shocks, Stradivarius, ridden with aplomb by Atzeni, announced himself as the horse to beat in the St Leger when toppling heavy-favourite Big Orange, ridden by Dettori.
Stradivarius was cut from 10/1 by Sky Bet for the St Leger on September 16 at Doncaster.
The five-day meeting got off to a rousing start when The Queen’s Fabricate had to rely on a Stewards inquiry before being declared the winner of the opening handicap.
Ed Dunlop’s Dark Red crossed the line in front but did veer to his left under Oisin Murphy and banged into Fabricate, who as a result shifted to his left and nudged Khairaat.
The Stewards took a long hard look at the video replay and reversed the placings which delighted Fabricate’s trainer Michael Bell.
“We were only experimenting over a mile and a quarter, I know Her Majesty will be delighted with that,” he said.
“This horse has been a real trial for us to keep right so it’s great credit to my team.
“It was only an experiment coming back in trip but I spoke to Her Majesty this morning and said the ground would be lovely and Adam gave him a lovely ride.”
