The 2025 Coral Stewards’ Cup will go down as a race to remember for Richard Spencer and Phil Cunningham, with the trainer-owner combination supplying the winner Two Tribes as well as the fourth Run Boy Run and fifth Twilight Calls.
A notable market mover through the day, 11/2 shot Two Tribes travelled strongly under David Egan among the stands’ side group before bursting clear to win by just over two lengths.
Strike Red (9/1), Jakajaro (16/1) and Run Boy Run (10/1) followed the winner home, in a race where the first four came from stalls 18 or higher. Twilight Calls (50/1) fared best of those who raced on the far side.
Two Tribes was securing a second valuable prize in the space of seven days, having landed a seven-furlong heritage handicap at Ascot last Saturday.
Spencer said: “I thought all three of them had really good chances. Two Tribes is in great form and, when you get a sprinter in this form, they are hard to beat.
“Two runs within seven days is hard for any horse but, at this level, it is even harder. They are not small fields, they are 28-runner races and the tempo is hard, so for them to have the mindset to do this is crazy. I didn’t expect him to win that far in a million years. It is a big testament to the staff at home, and hopefully we can carry on now.
‘‘The ground at Ascot was quick, whereas today it is a bit easier, which probably brought out a test of stamina. David got a good tune out of Two Tribes last week and this week he has jumped and travelled.
‘‘I thought all three would be bang close. I told everyone who spoke to me that they all had good each-way chances. I couldn’t really split them. I was dying to get Run Boy Run back to six furlongs with the visor on, while Twilight Calls will win a big one. Twilight Calls was drawn on the wrong side today and has done well to finish where he did. We will have a lot of fun with all of them. We could work back from the Ayr Gold Cup [with the placed horses].
“We have no immediate plans [for the winner]. We will see what the handicapper does. He is probably going to get a bit of a whack from the handicapper on the back of that, so we will let the dust settle.
“It is massive but it’s not just me. We have a big team behind us, and we get a lot of support from Phil and his family, so to reward him with two big handicap winners in a week is great.”
Cunningham said: “I have been very lucky. We have the right man training them and a super team. It is all coming together – it’s quite emotional. Everyone doesn’t obviously see everything that goes on all the time behind the scenes. It is hard work. When it all comes together and you get these special days, you’ve got to enjoy them.
“You feel spoilt [with Cockney Rebel] and a lot of people told me to pack up the game, saying it would never happen again. You keep trying to look for the next one and it’s an expensive hobby. These are the days that we do it for. We were very lucky last Saturday with the same horse.
“Two Tribes is by Rajasinghe, but I didn’t actually breed this horse, we bought him as a foal for £4,000. It is very rare that you have certain things that you can enjoy with your son and your dad.
“Every next big win is probably the best one. We have been very lucky to have some lovely winners in the past, but you always chase the next one. Saturday winners and festival winners are what we do this for.
“Richard has done an amazing job. I thought he was brave trying to saddle three on his own, but we got it done and we’ve got lots to look forward to with the group of horses that we have got, which are gradually creeping up in quality.”
Egan said: “Two Tribes actually did it easier today than in the International [at Ascot]. He travelled into it lovely – Richard’s other horse [Run Boy Run] showed more speed than Get It, which I was surprised with because you need to be a quick horse to do that.
“I knew at halfway we seemed to be ahead of the other group and he was taking me there rather than me asking. He is a fresh horse. When I rode him at Ascot, he tried to put me on the floor going under the tunnel. He did the same coming out here, so I knew that he was in a rich vein of form. Richard has produced him to the minute.
“He handles real tacky, testing conditions and was an easy winner. Not many horses can do the International-Stewards’ Cup double. Richard is a great friend and I get a real buzz out of riding winners for him. Phil, Aidan [Cunningham] and all the Rebel Racing team – they are really passionate and it’s great for them to get a winner here.”
Strike Red’s rider Billy Garritty said: “‘The winner had gone, but my horse has done well the last four or five years and has won a £100,000 handicap every season. He is an absolute delight and credit to his owners, who have minded him well. I had a clear run. The winner picked up and went away – he looks a well-handicapped horse.’’
Jakajaro’s trainer Robert Cowell said: “I think he would have been second in another stride or two. Jamie [Spencer] had to wait but that is the nature of this race. He has one of these big races in him. He is a talented horse and, as we can see from his last two races prior to this, he has shown he is very capable. He just needs a bit of luck and he will reward Fitri and Jim Hay very soon.’’
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