Marcus Tregoning served notice that his team is approaching peak form when he recorded a near 49-1 double with Mubtaker and Sheppard`s Watch in the main events at Goodwood today.
'Our horses are just coming back to themselves. It`s been a lovely day and it`s nice to be back here. Goodwood`s been very lucky to us,' said Tregoning, after seeing Sheppard`s Watch complete the brace by atoning for an unfortunate run at Lingfield 12 days earlier to lift the Listed EBF Conqueror Stakes under Martin Dwyer.
Sheppard`s Watch needs to be delivered late and Dwyer produced her right on cue to beat Monnavanna by half a length.
'She got the split when she just needed it today,' added Tregoning. 'She`s got lot of speed and what I said to Martin was whatever you do I don`t want a repeat performance of Lingfield. It could have gone the wrong way again, but it was her day today.'
Both Sheppard`s Watch and Monnavanna are engaged in Royal Ascot`s Coronation Stakes, and respective camps are considering their options.
Tregoning hopes that the current fine weather continues as Sheppard`s Watch is thought to be most effective on fast ground.
Mubtaker, ridden by Richard Hills, proved Tregoning`s judgement to be spot on when edging out favourite Nooshman and Pawn Broker in a three-way photo for the Badger Brewery Conditions Stakes.
Tregoning said: 'He was originally with David Loder and when I first got him last year David told me he was quite a nice horse. He`d had a bit of a problem with his knees but he`s moving great now. I had no worries about this ground because he`d been moving so well, and Richard said he acted very well on it.
'There`ll be more races to be won with him and we`ll step him up a little bit in trip. Richard said he`ll get a mile and half standing on his head.'
John Dunlop was less than pleased with Pat Eddery`s riding of Pawn Broker, who had been held up in rear, and had trouble getting out before being launched with a late rush. Pawn Broker was beaten a head and a short head into third.
'I`m not happy, but there we are,' said Dunlop, who may step Pawn Broker up to Group One company to tackle the Prince Of Wales`s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Marani was clipped to 25-1 from 33-1 by the Tote for the Vodafone Oaks after her narrow win in the Royal Sussex Regiment Maiden Fillies Stakes.
John Gosden did not rule Prince Khalid Abdullah`s filly either in or out of the Epsom Classic after Richard Hughes lifted her to a neck success over La Passione.
'You`ve got to keep an open mind,' said Gosden. 'I left her in the race this morning because she was running here and you`d have looked pretty silly if she was training good between now and Epsom. She`s also in the Ribblesdale.'
Hilltop Warning has the Bunbury Cup at the Newmarket July Meeting as a mid-summer target after the 16-1 shot floored the favourite Atavus in the opening A & J Bull Stakes.
Shock of the day was the victory of Mark Johnston`s 33-1 shot Akbar in the Bonusprint Rated Stakes, the top-weight coming late under Michael Hills to touch off long-time leader First Ballot.
