Godolphin winner Forest Of Dean caps dream two days for South African rider

Thursday: Newcastle

Less than 24 hours after riding a winner for the King, South African-born jockey Collen Storey notched another notable success in famous colours as he steered the Godolphin-owned Forest Of Dean to victory in the All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier.

Storey has ridden out regularly for John and Thady Gosden since having his first ride in Britain in May and guided Forest Of Dean to victory in the feature £30,000 contest to make it two wins in as many rides for the father-son training combination this year.

"I was quite confident with him, the gallop he put up at home was quite nice," Storey told Sky Sports Racing after recording his seventh winner in Britain. "It’s my first time here [at Newcastle]. It’s lovely to be coming all the way here for a quality ride like this.

"To be in the Godolphin colours means a lot to me as well. Yesterday in the King’s colours and now today, I’m delighted."

Forest Of Dean (centre): pulls clear of stablemate and eventual third HarrovianCredit: Grossick Racing

Victory for Forest Of Dean in the 1m2f conditions race means the seven-year-old has automatically qualified for the BetUK Middle Distance Championship race on Finals Day at the same track on April 7.

Another tilt at Lingfield’s Group 3 Winter Derby, which Forest Of Dean won in 2021, next month could be on the cards before a return to Newcastle, with Storey hoping to keep the ride.

He added: "I’m still building my brand, hardly any people know me so doing things like this is what will make my name and I’ll keep working hard. One of these days I’ll be as good as William Buick!"

Penalised Power

Joanna Mason settled for third on odds-on shot Calcutta Dream in the 1m2f classified stakes won by the Archie Watson-trained First Snowfall, but was not denied on fellow favourite Kraken Power in the 5f handicap.

The Jim Goldie-trained five-year-old could attempt to quickly follow up his short-head success under a penalty as he is declared to run at the track’s evening meeting on Friday.

Results, replays and analysis

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.