3 minute read

Andrew Balding enjoyed his first winner of the week at Goodwood when The Goat relished testing conditions to land the opening Coral Handicap.

Conditions continue to worsen at the Sussex track but that certainly didn't stop Andrew Balding's The Goat, who powered through the mud and gloom to run out a wide-margin twelve-length winner.

The 25/1 chance was in splendid isolation up the Goodwood straight with the well-fancied Amleto (5/2) winning the battle for second and Fox Journey (5/1) filling the third spot.

Andrew Balding said: "The GOAT stands for the greatest of all time - the greatest in this race, anyway! He loved the ground and he's a horse who's just had a tough spring and took a couple of runs to hit his form at home. He was very good - I thought he might be in a bit of trouble, but I'm very happy with the way he pulled clear. He'll love the autumn ground and there might be something for him."

Jockey Jason Watson told ITV Racing: "We won too far really. He's loved conditions, and Andrew [Balding, trainer] said he just keeps galloping away so try going as smoothly as you can through the race. We had a nice pace to aim at on this sort of ground and he just loved the conditions, but we've probably won a bit too far.

"It's quite a way to break your maiden, but he's a lovely, big stamp and a great-moving horse. He's by Cracksman and you would think he could go on and do anything. I wouldn't be afraid to step him up in trip, and he's probably been unlucky not to win a race before now. He's very honest and conditions have helped.

"It's getting heavy out there, and with a bit more racing and if this drizzle keeps up it will be for sure.

"Things are going well at the moment, but I'm greedy and always want more. The support I get from owners and trainers is fantastic and I'm very fortunate."

It was a first start in handicap company for the winner, who made a mockery of his opening mark of 81.