Yorkshire came to Sussex and dominated the finish of the £85,000 Vodafone Stewards' Cup at Goodwood today as 14-1 shot Bond Boy landed the spoils. The winner is one of 18 horses owned by Pocklington-based Reg Bond, all of whom are trained in Lambourn by Bryan Smart. But in October, Barnsley-born Smart will return north to take over the Hambleton stable currently occupied by Les Eyre.
And the connection continued with runner-up Halmahera (20-1), third-placed Undeterred (14-1) and fourth home Hurricane Floyd (5-1 favourite) all trained hundreds of miles away in North Yorkshire. The 28-runner cavalry charge, the final big race of the Glorious Goodwood meeting, was run in torrential rain that forced racegoers to huddle under umbrellas and seek cover wherever they could.
The field split into two groups almost immediately after the start and those racing on the far side soon held the advantage as Elvington Boy cut out the early pace. With a furlong to run, there were at least a dozen still in with a shout but it was Bond Boy who came out of the pack to win by a length under Chris Catlin.
Meanwhile, Islington landed another poignant success for the late Lord Weinstock as she ran away with the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood today. Last Saturday Golan battled to a narrow success in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes for the multi-millionaire owner/breeder, who had died just a few days earlier.
Things were much easier a week later for her stable-companion at Sir Michael Stoute's yard who scored with an ease rarely seen in Group One company. The 100-30 shot left a disappointing run in the Vodafone Oaks firmly behind as she cruised to the front two furlongs out and then showed an electric turn of speed to go clear and put the issue beyond doubt in a few strides.
She eventually passed the post four lengths clear, without jockey Kieren Fallon having to get at all serious. The 33-1 chance Sulk won the battle for second place, half a length clear of Oaks second Quarter Moon who was sent off 9-4 favourite but was being pushed along in rear from before halfway and made only laboured progress in the straight.
Filed by Brendan Cole
