Dubai: Dubai-owned Namibian may have earned himself a shot at the world's oldest Classic, the English St. Leger (Group 1), after putting in a solid effort to win the Group 2 Gordon Stakes on day one of Glorious Goodwood Tuesday.
Racing in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Mark Johnston-trained son of Cape Cross benefited from a strong ride by in-form Brazilian jockey Silvestre de Souza to score by a short-head from favourite Fiorente.
De Souza won a thrilling final stretch battle against former champion jockey Ryan Moore to notch his 82nd winner of the season, and give Johnston a landmark 50th winner at Glorious Goodwood.
Hunter's Light, ridden by seven-time UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan, was third in the colours of Godolphin.
When asked if the St. Leger would be the next target for Namibian, Johnston said on television: "I would think so. Obviously the owner has got to be involved in that decision as well, but he [Namibian] showed there are no worries about a mile and six [furlongs].
"You would think he'll go on improving. These are still early days for him."
Oldest classic
De Souza commented: "He's a lovely horse and he tries hard. He'd be even better at a mile and six."
Namibian will bid to become the 12th horse to have won the Gordon Stakes and then go on to glory in the St. Leger, which was first run in 1776 and is the oldest and longest Classic in the world at one mile and six furlongs.
Meanwhile, Strong Suit was a facile winner of the featured Lennox Stakes (Group 2) under a super-confident ride from jockey Richard Hannon who landed nine winners at the meeting last season.
Trained by Richard Hannon, the winner oozed class as he won by a length from Red Jazz, as Godolphin's fancied runner Delegator finished at the back of the field after never travelling well for jockey Frankie Dettori.
The James Bethell-trained Arlequin became only the second longest favourite to win the opening bet365.com Handicap, after scoring at odds of 25/1. Only two favourites in the last 22 runnings of the race have managed to win it .
