Neil Morrice highlights four horses who caught the eye at the recently concluded Goodwood Festival.
MISS ATTITUDE – Sprint Handicap, Goodwood, July 30th
Franny Norton has played his part in helping to chill out the former headstrong MISS ATTITUDE. An imposing mare to look at, she settled beautifully under that jockey, and with everything behind her being ridden seemed in a position to pick up the leader Tatterstall at will. In fact, Norton timed it a couple of inches wrong, and his mount was somehow denied by a nose. It will be interesting to see how MISS ATTITUDE gets on in a Racing League sprint at Chepstow tonight (Thursday) in which she can run off the same mark. The handicapper showed what he thought of the Goodwood run by putting her up 6lbs.
KATHMANDU – Group 3, Goodwood, July 31st
KATHMANDU had the form to do well and the market spoke in her favour, but her tendency to run keenly was exacerbated by the persistence of Breege to try to take an overall lead. This caused her to use up too much petrol so that she had nothing more to give in the final half a furlong. Beaten only a length and a quarter by the winner Raqiya, she’s worth giving another chance to.
POWER OF DESTINY – Fillies’ Handicap, Goodwood, July 31st
While eventual winner Al Anoud enjoyed an unblemished run through the race, POWER OF DESTINY was denied racing real estate at a crucial stage and it might have cost her victory. She fairly ate up the ground when seeing daylight, and would have prevailed in another couple of strides. This was just a fourth outing for the King Power-owned filly, who is a winner without a penalty.
ORBAAN – Golden Mile, Goodwood, August 2nd
If a rider chooses to gamble and remain on the rail at Goodwood in a race as competitive as this he is certain to meet trouble and that’s what happened to ORBAAN in a big way. Throughout the final quarter mile-plus the gelding was all dressed up but with nowhere to go, with his pilot having no choice but to sit and suffer. He finished the race with a full horse under him – deeply frustrating for his backers, but there will be another day.
