Defiantly not for passing at Goodwood Defiantly was not for beating as he held off all challengers in the marathon Coral Goodwood Handicap. Trained by Joseph O’Brien for the ownership group Australia Bloodstock, the chestnut arrived at the meeting having gone incredibly close when beaten just a head in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal fixture. Over a staying trip once again the gelding was partnered by the excellent Dylan Browne McMonagle, and as the 11-4 favourite he had the field strung out from an early stage before eventually sealing a three-length victory. Front-Running Plan Pays Off for Defiantly Australia Bloodstock’s Rob McInnes said: “I actually vetted the horse for Australia Bloodstock and liked him — it’s the first horse I have kept a share in. “He’s just a real, genuine one-paced stayer, he hasn’t got any acceleration but he just keeps going. Joseph trained him for Royal Ascot to just keep going and he’s done the same again today. “We know the horse hasn’t got an extra turn of foot, so we had to take the speed out of all the other horses. The plan was always to take the sprint out of everything else and keep on going because we knew he wouldn’t stop.” He added: “It’s a great, great festival — up there in the top three that I have been to. I’m here to enjoy here and a great time, it’s a bonus to have a share in a horse that’s won.”
