25-1 Commanche Falls becomes first back-to-back Stewards' Cup winner in 54 years

Saturday: Coral Stewards' Cup, Goodwood

It is well known that trainers tend to be creatures of habit, so having been more than 200 miles away from Goodwood last year when Commanche Falls landed the £250,000 Stewards' Cup, Michael Dods saw no reason to change his plans this time around.

There was one minor amendment as he swapped Doncaster for Thirsk as his racecourse of choice, but the result was the same as Commanche Falls became the first back-to-back winner of the Coral Stewards' Cup this century, and the first horse to complete the double since Sky Diver landed the race for a second time 54 years ago.

Furthermore, it was only the sixth time in the 182-year history of the Stewards' Cup that a horse had won the race twice, and just the second since the end of World War II.

"I was at Doncaster on this day last year and it's a winner wherever you are," Dods said. "I had to come here, it's local and we had horses to gallop this morning. It's worked out well."

Last year, Commanche Falls rolled into Goodwood off the back of victory in the Scottish Stewards' Cup and charged home late to see off Gulliver and Great Ambassador on soft ground.

This time, the five-year-old trailed in at Epsom on Derby day before unseating rider David Probert as the horses left the stalls for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, so something of a less-than-ideal preparation for defending the Stewards' Cup.

However, with Connor Beasley back in the saddle, Commanche Falls was back in business, arriving at the front earlier than planned after the race "fell apart", according to his rider, before digging deep in the colours of owners Doug Graham, Ian Davison and Alan Drysdale to deny the late thrust of Tabdeed and Hollie Doyle.

"I was a little behind the bridle but I needed to keep tabs on the front ones," Beasley said. "The race fell apart in front of me but when I felt Hollie coming to me I felt him go again and really stick his head down.

"I sat on him on Wednesday and I was very happy with him coming into this. I think he's the sort of horse who just comes to light at this time of year and it's a great training performance to bring him back to win this again."

Commanche Falls (Connor Beasley) after the Stewards' Cup at GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

Beasley's praise for Dods was matched by the winning trainer's praise for his rider, for whom Commanche Falls was his only mount of the week at Glorious Goodwood.

"I saw Connor pushing him and coming through and I thought 'he's got a good chance here'," Dods said. "It's great for Connor and the owners and the whole team after the disappointment of Ascot. We thought he'd run a big race there and it all went wrong.

"To do that two years running is what dreams are made of. I'm delighted for everybody involved, especially for Connor to go down there again for one ride. He's shown how good a jockey he is, yet again."

For the winning owners, Commanche Falls was continuing a golden spell in which Dakota Gold, a half-brother to the Stewards’ Cup winner, has also played a significant role with no fewer than 14 wins, including the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at York.

Co-owner Alan Drysdale said: "It's absolutely unbelievable, fantastic. You know, since 2017 we've had four horses race for us and between them they have won 24 races. That's incredible to have been a part of."

For Tabdeed, it was another narrow defeat in a big contest and Doyle was pleased to see the seven-year-old return to form for trainer Archie Watson and owner Lone Star Investments after a couple of below par efforts at Ascot.

"He has run a huge race and he has turned himself inside out compared to his last two runs," she said. "He's a horse that does like to pass horses, but being drawn where I was I did need some luck.

"He likes being ridden like that. A furlong down I thought I was definitely going to get there, but the winner is very tough. But it is great to see Tabdeed show some form."

Dual Stewards' Cup winners

Marvel 1890, 1892
Golden Rod 1910, 1912
Lord Annandale 1913, 1914 (dead-heat)
Sugar Palm 1942, 1943 (both at Windsor)
Sky Diver 1967, 1968
Commanche Falls 2021, 2022

(First run in 1840)

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