Novus (7/2F) overcame significant trouble in running to land the mile Buccellati Handicap for Gary Moore, just 48 hours after finishing second in the Coral Fillies’ Handicap on the opening day.
Novus was making ground approaching the two-furlong marker but had her run completely blocked and it looked like her chance was gone. However, Tom Queally gathered up his filly to renew her challenge, and she showed class and guts to come home strongly and score by three quarters of a length.
Runner-up Wildfell (28/1), who ran up a four-timer earlier in the season, was back in calmer waters after finishing sixth behind Nostrum in a Newmarket Listed race last time out. Man Of Eden (10/1) rallied to take third after also encountering trouble.
Moore said: “It is not something I planned to do [run Novus twice in three days] because she is quite a talented filly, you know. When I saw that she was drawn one today and they were all coming across, I thought, ‘oh my godfathers’, but it actually worked out well.
“She is a lovely filly and next she has to get black type. That has to be the plan. Tom was brilliant in that he got her into a good position early on, and the cutaway, I don’t know if it helped her. She got in a punch-up with a couple of others halfway down there, but I am just delighted that she has won. I hope there is no trouble in the stewards’ room!
“She is kind of ground-dependent, hence why I pulled her out so quick, because the ground was obviously softer today than it was on Tuesday. Tuesday’s ground was just a bit too good for her. When she won here earlier in the year, it was kind of jumping ground, and she won well that day over seven furlongs. She could even go further, maybe, the way she races late and finds a fair turn of foot. I think France is an obvious place for her to go, yes.”
Queally said: “I got Novus more focused today – we didn't have time to declare cheekpieces, but she needs a bit of help concentrating so we put a fluffy noseband on instead. It seemed to help me get to where I wanted to be in the race.
"We were riding the race to use the cutaway to our advantage, but at that point where I made the beeline towards the rail four other people did as well, and I came out worst of it.
"She did well to rally, she did well to win. Arguably she shouldn't have won so I hope the handicapper will handicap her on the winning margin rather than the fashion in which she won. We could now aim a bit higher and maybe get a bit of black type, which would be nice for her going forward when she becomes a mare.
"Heading into the autumn, you would like to think this ground will be around more often than not and off her mark I still think she has a job to do. She could be a bit better than just a handicapper."
4.45pm Buccellati Handicap
1 Novus (Omar Jackson) Gary Moore 3-9-05 Tom Queally 7/2F
2 Wildfell (C Gardiner & Miss E Donnelly) Peter Chapple-Hyam 3-9-01 John Egan 28/1
3 Man Of Eden (John Deer) Harry & Roger Charlton 10/1
17 ran
Gary Moore – 9th Qatar Goodwood Festival winner
Tom Queally – 17th Qatar Goodwood Festival winner
