Angel Bleu takes the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) back in October of 2021 (JTW Equine Images)
By Tom Williams
Angel Bleu left it very late under Hector Crouch to take the Group 2 Bet365 Celebration Mile, denying Knight and James Doyle in a pulsating finish at Goodwood.
The classy 4-year-old son of Dark Angel was always travelling nicely under his pilot, which was more than could be said for several of his rivals, and it showed at the business end of the 1-mile trip as he relished every yard of the sodden turf to get up on the line.
Random Harvest, a recent winner at Ascot, was playing up in the stalls somewhat, keen and eager to get going, but when the stalls opened they were slow away. Slow too was Charyn, who looked awkward leaving the gates and had to be rushed along to get back onto the tail of the field.
Holguin took them along, setting an even clip, with no real concerns for any of the rivals, despite Random Harvest, the Ascot winner not settling as well as they normally do and being relegated to further back than they usually are seen.
Turning into the home straight, Holguin took the field along to the near side, conditions being determined as better on the near side compared to the usual far side. This move did come at the expense of racing room for the favourite Epictetus, who was trading paint with the rail as the pace lifted.
The favourite was ultimately disappointing as he found nothing in the conditions and faded to the rear.
Up at the front however, Holguin’s brave effort tapered out and it was Knight and James Doyle who found the front, with Charyn trying to go over the top and come from last to first. Random Harvest was never getting involved under Saffie Osborne and could never get close.
Angel Bleu was seemingly trapped on the inside rail, but when Holguin’s run came to an end and he drifted off the rail, he took the brave route under Hector Crouch. That run came at just the pivotal moment, as he came through strong enough to get up when it mattered and nail Knight on the line.
Charyn finished third, but the field were all finishing tired, in a race that became a real slog on the Sussex Downs.
Speaking afterward to Matt Chapman on ITV at York, trainer Ralph Beckett was grateful for the deluge of half an inch that had fallen at Goodwood earlier that morning.
“The rain was very welcome this morning for him”, he declared. “We are very happy with that”.
He also reflected on the success of his young jockey, who was stepping up to the plate in place of regular pilot Frankie Dettori, who was up at York for their big meeting.
“I think that’s his (Hector’s) biggest win”.
Hector confirmed this when speaking to the assembled media afterward.
“I was a little bit emotional crossing the line,” he remarked, further detailing that he never felt he would get the chance to ride a major winner on the colt due to his regular pilot taking the majority of rides.
“I never thought I would sit on him again, to have a Listed and Group 2 win on him this year, it means a lot!”
“I’m thankful to Marc ( owner ) and Ralph ( trainer ).
Referring to the race again, Hector was grateful that the gap had come, and that his mount had been gutsy enough to break through and go on.
“I had to wait… I was lucky”. He went on to reflect that as the horse was a Group 1 winner ( Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in 2021 at ParisLongchamp on soft ground ) and loves wet conditions, he felt he had a bit more class than the rivals.
It was an excellent half hour for trainer Ralph Beckett and owner Marc Chan as stable star Kinross took the Group 2 City of York Stakes under Frankie Dettori, the flamboyant Italian saluting the crowd as he sailed home on the Knavesmire. And with regard to future plans, the trainer stated that a return to ParisLongchamp Racecourse for the Prix de la Foret was on the agenda.
