'They're not winning rubbish races' - fine form thrills red-hot William Haggas
Friday: Goodwood
A rampant William Haggas might have been disappointed with Lysander's effort in the Derby trial on the card, but little else went wrong for the Newmarket trainer who won the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes with Sea Silk Road and doubled up in the 7f handicap with Montassib.
Haggas, in glorious form, enjoyed a treble at Newbury headlined by the brilliant Lockinge winner Baaeed on Saturday and two other Listed victories followed this week before Sense Of Duty also struck at that level at Haydock on Friday.
"They are winning good races, which is the thing," Haggas said.
"They're not winning rubbish races and that's the great bit about it."
Tom Marquand has ridden a host of Haggas's recent winners and said: "All you ever do is try to ride winners and when the horses are flying it feels all you're doing is riding winners. I know it doesn't last forever, but we're having a wonderful time.
"We've a beautiful bunch of horses and the amount of stakes winners we've had recently has been incredible. It's a testament to the stock William has in the yard and the job the team at home do."
Law in charge
Stan Threadwell has racing in his blood, but a winner is something he never tires of and he was thrilled to see the Brian Meehan-trained Lawful Command strike in the mile handicap.
"I've had horses with Brian since the day he started training," explained Threadwell, who owns Lawful Command with Dennis Simmonds.
"I'm probably his oldest owner as my dad, also called Stan, was a Flat jockey and was good pals with Richard Hannon snr when Brian was there as an assistant.
"Dad rode 19 winners as an apprentice, but got too heavy and shot up so he went jumping and fell off twice, so said, 'That's it'."
Threadwell's nephew Louis Steward was aboard the winner and Meehan said: "I got my licence in November 1992 and Stan had already sent me a horse a month before that."
Coventry hope
Paul Cole knows a good juvenile when he sees one and Royal Scotsman is bound for the Coventry Stakes after his impressive success in the 6f novice.
The race was won by the following year's Derby hero Masar in 2017 and Royal Scotsman looks a bright prospect for owners Jim and Fitri Hay and Cole, now training in partnership with son Oliver.
Cole, who has won the Coventry at Royal Ascot three times and was champion trainer in 1991, said: "When I saw him at the sales I immediately thought, 'How am I going to engineer to get him'. Look at him, he's lovely – he knocked me out when I saw him.
"It never looked in any doubt today and the Coventry was the plan before he even ran; you know when you've got horses like him."
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Published on 20 May 2022inReports
Last updated 18:28, 20 May 2022
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