Ahern Rides High At Goodwood

Eddie Ahern took the riding honours on the second day of Glorious Goodwood with a 293-1 treble on Strategic Prince, Strategic Mount and Sacre Coeur.

After winning one of the day's feature events ? the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes ? on Paul Cole's Strategic Prince, he then proceeded to give Strategic Mount a canny front-running ride to land the cantorspreadfair.com Stakes.

The latter was also trained by Cole and the Whatcombe-based handler has big plans for the colt, whom he hopes will develop into a Cup horse next season.

He said: 'His target is the Melrose (at York on August 24) if he can get into the handicap.

'He's an improving horse and what we are hoping is that next year he'll get two miles and become a good stayer because that's what he looks like to me.

'He's an exciting prospect so long as everything stays on track. Cup races may be a bit optimistic but that's what we are hoping for.'

The three-timer was completed when Ahern, who also rode a winner at Leicester's evening meeting on the same day, took the Findon Maiden Fillies' Stakes on Sacre Coeur for local trainer John Dunlop.

He sent the 5-1 chance to the front at halfway in the six-furlong dash but had to ride her right out to hold the fast-finishing Rahiyah by a neck.

Key Time benefited from a fine tactical ride from Seb Sanders to win the Invesco Perpetual Goodwood Stakes.

Sir Mark Prescott's progressive gelding was always handy as Oddsmaker set a good pace.

But as the leader began to weaken three from home, Sanders kicked his mount into the lead and the four-year-old soon established a clear advantage ? a move which proved crucial.

His stride was shortening close home but his rivals had too much to do to peg him back and he held on by a neck from Theatre.

Sanders said: 'He was always going very well and he stays extremely well.

'They've gone a real nice pace, which we'd hoped for, and when I went to the front I decided to try and grab a couple of lengths when I could and see if anyone could catch me.'

Another jockey seen to good effect was champion-elect Ryan Moore, who brought Nice Tune with a perfectly-timed run down the outside to take the Weatherbys Bank Fillies' Stakes by a length from Princess Cocoa.

Clive Brittain's four-year-old shouldered 10st and Moore said: 'I wanted to take my time with her carrying 10st but I was always confident I was going to get there.

'She's a really game filly, who tries very hard, and it was a good performance carrying that weight.'

There was a good finish to the closing Links Of London EBF Classified Stakes when Luca Cumani's Minority Report got the better of Kalankari by a head.

The principals came very close in the final stages and the stewards inquired into possible interference inside the final furlong.

After deliberating for about 10 minutes, they allowed the result to stand but found winning jockey Nicky Mackay guilty of careless riding and banned him for two days (August 13 and 14).

(C) PA Sport