Charlie Fellowes: 'We've had a rough season so Marbaan win means a lot'

Charlie Fellowes is hoping the football commentator’s cliche of a game of two halves applies to his season after a breakthrough Group 2 success with potential 2,000 Guineas hope Marbaan in the Vintage Stakes.

The Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned colt earned a quote of 20-1 for next year’s Classic with Betfair Sportsbook after coming with a well-timed run under Jamie Spencer to defeat 11-8 favourite Holloway Boy by half a length.

It has not been plain sailing for the Newmarket trainer this year, with Marbaan taking his domestic tally to 18 winners. He had trained 24 winners by the end of July last year, with his 2021 tally totalling 41.

Grand Alliance looked likely to provide Fellowes with a Royal Ascot winner before hanging badly late on and being denied by a short head by Changingoftheguard in the King Edward VII Stakes, while Fellowes’s strike-rate in the spring dipped to six per cent in April and nine per cent in May.

There has been much more promise this month, however, with Marbaan taking Fellowes’ strike-rate in July to 25 per cent. He could well be a trainer to follow for the coming months.

Fellowes said: “This meant a lot – we've had a rough season. From Grand Alliance deciding to throw away the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot to a few other small issues, it's been tough.

“Training at the moment is as difficult as it ever has been, there's lots of competition and talented trainers coming through. All credit to the team and hopefully we can have a big second half."

The Japan Racing Association-sponsored Vintage Stakes has an illustrious honour roll including Troy, Petoski, Dr Devious and Sir Percy, with 2015 winner Galileo Gold the last horse to go on to win the 2,000 Guineas the following year.

Marbaan (near): stayed on best to win the Vintage StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Fellowes had not thought beyond this Glorious Goodwood outing but has plenty to consider for the rest of the year.

He said: “I genuinely haven’t thought about future options but he’s in the National Stakes, which could be very tempting, and I put him in the Champagne Stakes this morning.

“I’m sure he’ll stay a mile and we’ve always thought a lot of him. He’s stood out from the get-go and continued to progress.”

Members can watch the replay of Marbaan's Vintage Stakes win

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