Illustrious Blue claims Goodwood Cup
Thursday 29 July 2010
It was very much a case of horses for courses at Glorious Goodwood this afternoon as 8-1 shot Illustrious Blue recorded his seventh win at the track in the Group 2 Artemis Goodwood Cup.
Outsider Electrolyser ran the race of his life to finish second at 33-1, while Purple Moon stayed on for third at 13-2.
The race was marred by a serious injury to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Age Of Aquarius.
Johnny Murtagh, who was returning from suspension, set out to make all on last month's Ascot Gold Cup runner-up and the odds-on favourite was still travelling ominously well half a mile from home when he suddenly lost his action and was pulled up.
The Ballydoyle colt was subsequently taken to a veterinary centre in nearby Arundel for further observation.
Age Of Aquarius' departure left the Clive Cox-trained Electrolyser clear at the head of affairs, but Illustrious Blue could be spotted moving strongly through the field.
Jim Crowley had to get serious with the seven-year-old entire, but nothing was going to stop him claiming a seventh victory on the Sussex Downs.
Knight said: 'It's the third time he's won at Glorious Goodwood and a different trip each time, so what a star. Jim gave him a lovely ride.
'I regrettably should have tried him over two miles last year, but we've had a fantastic run with him and he keeps on winning for us.
'Jim has put a lot of good work in on the horse - he knows him so well.
'It's great teamwork from everyone at home because we're a smallish yard.
'To have a horse like this to come along makes a big difference to everybody.'
Crowley added: 'He settled lovely, and at the top of the hill he was travelling so nicely.
'He's such a tough little horse and he's a legend for me round here.
'He could even be a horse for the Melbourne Cup.'
Clive Cox said of Electrolyser, the 33-1 runner-up: 'I'm really pleased because he has proved as good as I thought he was.
'There is more to come as he has not been scoping right and we've had to be patient to get him back.
'There are a few interesting races in France as well as over here to think about.'
Luca Cumani said of Purple Moon: 'It's another step in the right direction.
'Kieren (Fallon) said he had to switch him when the Ballydoyle horse came down but it is not a real excuse and, all being well, he'll go for the Lonsdale (York, 18 August).'
