3 minute read

Al Aasy returned to winning ways when landing the Group 3 Glorious Stakes under a daring Jim Crowley ride.

William Haggas' evergreen seven-year-old was recording an eighth career success when reversing the form with the reopposing Phantom Flight from when they met at Newbury last month.

Phantom Flight moved up menacingly alongside the longtime leader Relentless Voyage as the field of five approached the furlong marker, but as his effort petered out, the eye was quickly drawn to the strong-travelling Al Aasy in behind.

It looked as though Jim Crowley's luck at Goodwood would be out once again, with Al Aasy struggling for racing room down towards the inside. However, Relentless Voyager, who had wrestled back the advantage under Oisin Murphy, left the smallest of gaps down towards the rail, an invitation both Crowley and Al Aasy accepted with open arms.

The Shadwell-owned son of Sea The Stars quickened up smartly through the gap, eventually going on to score snugly by a length from the longtime leader Relentless Voyager.

Phantom Flight finished back in third for George Scott and Callum Shepherd.

"It was a messy race," said Crowley. "We went very steady which we knew we would. I got a bit closer at the top of the hill and then I was quite happy when he was in a pocket. William said to ride him for luck and, if it opens up, it opens up. We just needed that gap, and I was very fortunate to have got up the rail.

"There wasn't a lot of room up the rail and, in fairness to the horse, he was very brave. Once he was in there, it was game over really. He's just as good over 10 as he is over a mile and a half. He has been a bit unlucky because that's his run style. Obviously, he has been called a few names in the past for not being a battler. He is just one of those horses who has to be produced at the last minute.

"William said if you get beat riding for luck, it's one of those things. When a trainer says that you, it takes the pressure off a little bit."

Angus Gold, racing manager for Shadwell, added: "The horse has still got the class and luckily when he did squeeze through, he quickened up and doesn't even know he's had a race.

"People keep knocking him but he's won nearly £400,00 and I wouldn't mind a few more like that.

"The ability is still there, he took a long time to come to himself this spring, it was a horrible spring as you know, and William sensibly let him find his own way.

"It shows you how important it is to have these older horses in training. We need these horses to be competing at the bigger meetings.

"The one real positive today is that he only ran for a hundred yards so he's he's had a very easy day out."