3 minute read

Mark Johnston's Yalta ran out a most impressive winner of the Victoria Racing Club Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

Successful on his debut at this venue before following up at Pontefract, the youngster was an 8-1 shot on his return to Sussex having seemingly had his limitations exposed in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Stakes at Newmarket.

But dropped to five furlongs for the first time, Yalta was always travelling powerfully on the front end and found another gear in the final furlong to take the Group Three prize by three lengths in a two-year-old course-record time.

Stable companion The Last Lion stuck on for second to provide Johnston with a one-two, with favourite Global Applause not far away in third.

Winning jockey James Doyle said: "He's got course experience having won here before and it all felt so easy.

"He was first out of the gate, he got into a nice rhythm and was pricking his ears in front, so I was saving plenty, although I was going a good clip.

"I thought it would take a quick one to catch me as he was going through the gears nicely.

"I had a slight worry as I dropped my rein a furlong out, which isn't ideal in a sprint like this, but luckily we got it together and he finished off well.

"The drop back in trip and the quicker ground has obviously helped.

"It was a proper performance."

Johnston admitted he was surprised Yalta managed to get the better of his stablemate over the minimum trip.

He said: "We've been a bit devastated when he got beaten the last couple of times as we thought so much of him early on.

"At the beginning of the year, he was one of the ones - along with Sutter County and The Last Lion - that we said was among our leading colts.

"James McDonald said last time at Newmarket about bringing him back to five furlongs and I couldn't believe it looking at his size and scope. I didn't think he would be a sprinter.

"I couldn't really believe it until about halfway through the race today when he was leading them a merry dance and I was pretty sure he would come home strongly, which he did.

"He had shown tremendous speed in his races, but I was amazed. I know what The Last Lion is like and to be leading him by three or four lengths when he had not even asked him I knew the writing was on the wall at halfway.

"It is obviously disappointing for the owners of The Last Lion. They didn't expect it and we didn't. We thought The Last Lion was the out-and-out five-furlong horse but he has been put in his place.

"When he (The Last Lion) won the Brocklesby Franny (Norton) said he would be much better on better ground but we are now finding out that a bit of cut does not inconvenience him, so I think in future we will look for races with ease in the ground."

Trainer Ed Dunlop said of Global Applause: "Frankie (Dettori) said he got no cover and they went flat out down the hill. He just didn't last home. The winner was a worthy one.

"Frankie would have loved to have been able to drop him in and ride a race on him."