John Oxx takes first Goodwood Cup victory with Saddler's Rock
Putting his journey back on the right track, Saddler's Rock took trainer John Oxx to his first Goodwood Cup triumph on Thursday, August 2nd. The Group 2 event saw the 2-1 favourite beating Colour Vision and the rest to bag the first prize worth
£56,710.00.
Saddler’s Rock was an unlucky loser on his seasonal debut in June, when missing the first rank only by half a length at Leopardstown.
His misery continued at Royal Ascot, where he was thrashed by Colour Vision in the Group 1 Gold Cup. Taking revenge of his previous trouncing, the 4-year-old performed magnificently at Goodwood, and ensured the top position by a length.
Under Johnny Murtagh, the colt chased the leading pair in the beginning. He did well to come closer, and subsequently pumped up his speed to go second a couple of furlongs before the finishing line.
The Michael O'Flynn-owned managed to get a handsome lead well before the wire. After getting in command, he kept on gamely under pressure, and was always doing enough in the final moments.
Askar Tau, who outsmarted Saeed Bin Suroor’s charge, Colour Vision, to take the runner-up place, held up well off the pace in the last trio. The 25-1 chance recovered well in the middle stages, but still had plenty to do.
The 7-year-old son of Montjeu switched left inside the final furlong, and stayed on well to chase the leader in the final 50 yards. Colour Vision was prominent in the beginning, but staying on one pace did not help him at the end. As a result, the 5-1 chance
lost the second place in the dying moments.
On a classy victory, Murtagh stated: "This was going to be a big year for this lad and it didn't start great at Ascot, but he redeemed himself today. He's a lovely little stayer with a great turn of foot, especially on this ground. He's not very big, but
is all heart and very straightforward. He's improving all the time."
Oxx added: It's a nice race to win, a great old race with a lot of tradition and history and I'm delighted to win it with such a nice horse.”
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