Gosden Duo Shines at Sandown Park (July 1, 2023)

In the latest edition of the Coral-sponsored race meeting at Sandown Park, it was the Gosden training team that stole the show, with Spiritual pulling off a surprise 25/1 victory in the Coral Distaff.

While the yard’s 9/4 favorite Regal Jubilee had been fancied to take the day’s feature event, it was the George Strawbridge-owned Spiritual, ridden by Richard Kingscote, who emerged triumphant. Bouncing out of the stalls, the daughter of Invincible Spirit led from the front and fended off a host of challengers in the home straight, including Royal Ascot winner Soprano and the Ralph Beckett-trained Indelible, to score by a length and a quarter.

Kingscote was full of praise for the winning filly, highlighting the stable’s hard work in getting her to settle, as well as the testing conditions up the straight that may have blunted the late challenges. “She’s obviously learning and is still lightly raced,” he commented. “She’s going the right way so there is no reason to think that she can’t come on for today.”

The Gosdens’ Further Success

The Gosdens’ success was not limited to the Distaff, as their progressive four-year-old Cicero’s Gift made a winning return to action in the Coral Challenge. Sent off at 11/2 after 382 days off the track, the colt demonstrated his class to hold off Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy by half a length under the guidance of young jockey Billy Loughnane.

Trainer Charlie Hills was delighted with the performance, acknowledging that the plan had been to target a conditions race at Goodwood, but now hinting that more ambitious targets, such as the Sussex Stakes, could be on the cards for the talented performer.

Other Notable Performances

Elsewhere on the Sandown card, Makarova provided Ed Walker with a well-deserved first Group-race success in the Coral Charge. The consistent five-year-old mare, ridden by Hector Crouch, came with a late surge to collar the progressive Desperate Hero and secure a three-quarter length victory at odds of 9/2.

Walker was understandably thrilled, describing Makarova as a “legend” and confirming that the Goodwood King George Stakes would be the next port of call, with further valuable black-type the long-term goal before retirement at the end of the season.

The opener on the card saw William Haggas’ Swindon make all under David Egan to win the Coral Play “Racing-Super-Series” For Free Handicap by a length and a half. Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas revealed that the horse could be heading to the sales this month, but was delighted to see him bounce back to his best form.

“She’s obviously learning and is still lightly raced. She’s going the right way so there is no reason to think that she can’t come on for today.” – Richard Kingscote

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