BIRTHDAY BOY BAKER FEELING GLORIOUS WITH 125/1 WINNER FOR TURF CLUB
Feel Glorious, who had been unplaced in two previous races, pulled off a 125/1 shock when landing the 17-runner Victoria Racing Club Fillies' Maiden for Surrey trainer George Baker, who was celebrating his 53rd birthday.
The venue for the win, high on the Sussex Downs, could not have been more appropriate, as the name Feel Glorious implies. A daughter of stallion Bated Breath, she was given her name following a collaboration between the Bakers - George and his wife Candida - and Goodwood Racecourse, which last year ran a social media fashion marketing campaign titled #feelglorious. Goodwood has been following the filly since via social media, and will be taking an even closer interest in her after this memorable triumph.
To a rendition of 'Happy Birthday', sung by racegoers around the winner's enclosure and members of the Turf Club syndicate which owns the filly, Baker stepped forward to receive the winning trainer's prize, having admitted he ran Feel Glorious more in hope than expectation. Ridden by Pat Cosgrave, she won by a neck and half a length from Alhakmah (4/1f) and Welcoming (5/1).
Initially Baker joked: "I really fancied her, and thought she was a bit of a certainty today," before admitting: "No, she's a lovely filly and she disappointed me at Kempton last time out when drawn wide and did a lot of running early and just ran out of puff. Today I felt that if she finished mid-division in a hot maiden like this I would be delighted, but I didn't just bring her here for the good of her health. It's only down the road for us [he trains near Chiddingfold] and we've always liked her, but she's just been bubbling under.
"I can't pretend I told all her owners to get on at 125/1, but I knew she would run a nice race, and Pat said she was still green and a little bit weak. There's a little bit of class. One of the reasons we came here was because the Turf Club has been a great supporter of Goodwood and sponsored races at the course for years. A lot of the members are here today and I told them she would run well - I expect a few will be a little disappointed that they didn't back her at 125/1, but it's a fantastic win at our local track. What more could I ask for.
"Pat suggested we look after her and not go mad, she's still unfurnished, so that might be it for now, but she will be a lovely horse for next year."
GLORIOUS PERFORMANCE FOR COSGRAVE
Pat Cosgrave triumphed on Feel Glorious to a shock 125/1 success in the Victoria Racing Club Fillies' Maiden for trainer George Baker.
The two-year-old daughter of Bated Breath ran on well in the closing stages to deny the fast finishing 4/1 favourite Alhakmah, trained Richard Hannon, to score by a neck.
Cosgrave, having his first ride on Feel Glorious, said: "I don't think it was a surprise to the Baker camp. It was a 17-runner maiden and they are usually quite good here, but they said to me to ignore her last couple of runs.
"George said he would not be surprised if she was in the mix.
"They are always nice maidens here with big fields and well-bred horses from big, respected trainers. It rode OK and we went a good gallop from the start.
"I was a little bit flat out at halfway but once I got back onto the flat part of the track, she finished off good."
4.10pm Victoria Racing Club Fillies' Maiden
1 Feel Glorious (Turf Club 2016) George Baker 2-9-00 Pat Cosgrave 125/1
2 Alhakmah (Al Shaqab Racing) Richard Hannon 2-9-00 Ryan Moore 4/1 fav
3 Welcoming (Tactful Finance Ltd) Clive Cox 2-9-00 Adam Kirby 5/1
17 ran
Time: 1m 12.57s
Distances: nk, ½
Tote Win: £85.60 Places: £19.20, £2.20, £2.20 Exacta: £1,224.20
George Baker - 13 Goodwood winners (2 at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
Pat Cosgrave - 18 Goodwood winners (3 at Qatar Goodwood Festival)
GLORIOUS DENIES FAVOURITE ALHAKMAH
Alhakmah, the 4/1 favourite, came home a neck adrift of the 125/1 winner Feel Glorious, in the fifth race on the card, the six furlong Victoria Racing Club Maiden Fillies' two-year-old race, on the second day of the 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Trained by Richard Hannon, the No Nay Never filly ran a pleasing race, with Hannon commenting: "She got a bump early on in the race but she ran a good race. She's a good filly."
Clive Cox Trainer of third home Welcoming, said: "It was a great run, we were drawn right in the middle so for a baby on her second start we're over the moon.
"She finished off the race really well and hopefully she's going the right way."
