Coming here having been last of 10 in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 27, Godolphin's second-string Richard Pankhurst was in a hurry to turn around his fortunes as he upstaged the favourite Home of the Brave to lead home a one-two for the operation in unexpected order. Having caused a stir registering an impressive success in the Listed Chesham S. when still a maiden over this trip at Royal Ascot in June 2014, the chestnut duly went into the Classic notebooks but injury interrupted his story which was not resumed until last September. Picking up where he left off in a Haydock conditions event again at this distance, he managed a narrow success from Dark Emerald but suffered his first public flop afterwards when seventh in the Listed Hyde S. over a mile on Kempton's Polytrack in November. Posting a respectable effort on his second career comeback when fifth in the July 9 G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, he had the likes of Kodi Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Convey and Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) in arrears to suggest the power still remained under the bonnet. Despite subsequently bringing up the rear in the Sussex, it was significant that a trainer like John Gosden thought him worthy of lining up for that championship contest in the first place and he went overlooked here by all but a few “shrewdies” in the know.
Reserved in last early by a confident Robert Havlin in the famous white cap which had been sported on so many winning occasions by Godolphin's supposed lesser lights down the years, he was only asked to make a move heading towards the quarter pole as Home of the Brave tried to apply the pressure from the front. Smoothly cutting between rivals heading to the final furlong, it was the Richard Pankhurst of Royal Ascot past as he quickly gained the measure of the long-time leader with just over 100 yards to race and he only needed to be kept up to his work to comfortably assert his superiority. “He's always shown us a high level of ability at home and such a devastating turn of foot, but he's had niggling problems throughout his career and as a result lacks a bit of confidence,” Havlin said of the winner, who was providing John Gosden with a record sixth success in the race. “He showed some of that ability today and a small field on a straight track suited. We expected a lot more from his first two runs this year, as his homework had been good but he's taken time and has not been putting it together. He's not had hard races and I was able to get him organised and sit quiet on him today, plus he loves fast ground. I wouldn't say seven furlongs is his trip, but a straight track is the key as he doesn't like the hustle and bustle. As he grows in confidence, more options will be open to him.”
Richard Pankhurst was the first foal out of a sister to the G3 Prix Daphnis winner Lateen Sails (GB) (Elmaamul) and was quickly followed by the same stable's G3 Horris Hill S. winner Crazy Horse (GB), who is by the 2005 winner of this contest Sleeping Indian (GB) and has not been seen since finishing sixth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Deauville in May. Her next produce is the unraced 2-year-old Lydia Becker (GB), who is a full-sister to Crazy Horse, while her yearling colt is by Nathaniel (Ire) and her filly foal is by another Gosden star in Kingman (GB). The fourth dam is Chain Store (Nodouble), responsible for the GII Diana H. winner and GI Matriarch S. third Geraldine's Store (Exclusive Native) and Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom {Fr}), the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine who produced the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Champion S.-winning sire Haafhd (GB), among others. This is also the dynasty of the MGISP sire Boatman and Spanish Fern (El Gran Senor), winner of the GI Yellow Ribbon S.
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
BETFRED HUNGERFORD S.-G2, £150,000, NBY, 8-13, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:24.43, g/f.
1–@RICHARD PANKHURST (GB), 132, c, 4, by Raven's Pass
1st Dam: Mainstay (GB), by Elmaamul
2nd Dam: Felucca (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Bloudan, by Damascus
O-Godolphin; B-Rachel D S Hood (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-0, $189,862. *1/2 to Crazy Horse (GB) (Sleeping Indian {GB}), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Home of the Brave (Ire), 132, c, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)">Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Blissful Beat (GB), by Beat Hollow (GB). (€80,000 Ylg '13 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie du Grand Chene (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £32,250.
3–Dark Emerald (Ire), 132, g, 6, Dark Angel (Ire)–Xema (GB), by Danehill. (€18,000 Wlg '10 GOFNOV; £33,000 Ylg '11 DNPRM; €26,000 2yo '12 GFS2Y0). O-K Rhatigan; B-Olive O'Connor (IRE); T-Brendan Powell. £16,140.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 11.00, 1.75, 10.00.
Also Ran: Markaz (Ire), Jallota (GB), Convey (GB). Scratched: Golden Steps (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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