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Monsieur Kodi relishes ground to take the opener

Horse Racing | Press Article 17/04/24

Proven soft-ground performer Monsieur Kodi came out on top in the Coral Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, providing Richard Fahey with his first win of the meeting after a couple of near misses.

Monsieur Kodi (9/2F), who stayed with the majority of the field on the far side, burst clear under Oisin Orr before staying on to prevail by half a length.

Runner-up Capote’s Dream (17/2) had to wait for an out before finishing strongly to close on the winner late on. Many A Star (9/1) was three quarters of a length further back in third. Morning favourite Zaman Jemil was withdrawn at the start.

Orr said: “It is hard work, and I think it's not far off heavy ground, but this lad has shown he can handle it before, so it was probably a bonus to us.

"It [the far rail] is the freshest ground and if you can get an advantage anywhere it's on fresher ground, so we were aiming to get over there and it's worked out."

Of his decision to move from Ireland to take a job with Richard Fahey, Orr said: "It wasn't a very difficult decision. I had done well in Ireland, but at the time I needed a change and it's been great ever since I came over."

Harriet Cozens, part of winning syndicate Middleham Park Racing XVI, said: “I think there are six of us here today. We were hopeful, very hopeful, as he likes the ground. Callum [Pittendreigh, work rider] said he had a really good chance today. It depended on whether he could cope with the really soft ground, but they were very, very hopeful for an excellent run – and it’s brilliant that he’s got his head in front again, as he is superb.”

She added: “I have been involved in Middleham Park for about five or six years now. I have quite a few shares in quite a few horses, it’s my hobby. I just love it – love it to bits.”

On Monsieur Kodi’s Goodwood win, she said: “It is totally glorious. To have a horse win on one of the biggest days of the whole calendar is very special.”

Tom Marquand said of Capote’s Dream: “He ran super. The race came over to the far side, and he is a horse that likes to come through them. I would have loved to have got out two strides earlier, but it probably suited him in that regard. The ground is very soft."

Jeffrey Hobby, husband of owner Phoebe Hobby, said of Many A Star: “He ran really well. Oliver [Cole] has done a great job getting him back to form. The ground is challenging and that did not really suit, but he ran really well. He struggled to get out as they all came in very tight and, when he got out, he did not pick up as we would have liked. On this ground, the softer ground horses did better. He put in a very creditable performance.”

Monsieur Kodi wins the Coral Stewards' Sprint Handicap (credit: Goodwood Racecourse)

 

1.50pm Coral Stewards’ Sprint Handicap

1 Monsieur Kodi (Middleham Park Racing XVI) Richard Fahey 4-9-07 Oisin Orr 9/2F

2 Capote’s Dream (Fitorfat Racing 1) Tom Ward 6-9-00 Tom Marquand 17/2

3 Many A Star (Phoebe Hobby) Paul & Oliver Cole 6-9-07 Rossa Ryan

11 ran

 

Richard Fahey – 15th Qatar Goodwood Festival winner

Oisin Orr – 2nd Qatar Goodwood Festival winner