Dorset repels host of challenges to land Goffs Million Young apprentice jockey Jack Cleary recorded the biggest win of his career to date when partnering the Aidan O'Brien trained Dorset to take the featured Goffs Million at the Curragh. Runner-up over course and distance on his debut in June, the grey returned to the same track to win his maiden at the second time of asking. However, following two recent defeats, albeit at a higher level, the son of Wootton Bassett was sent off a 17/2 chance here. Chasing leader Homestrait in the opening couple of furlongs, Cleary came through to take over before the halfway stage. Strongly pressed by stable companion Composing and August George inside the final furlong, the O'Brien colt stuck his head out bravely to beat the latter by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Chris Armstrong said:- “It’s fantastic to win this race. Fair play to Goffs for putting up a pot like this, it’s a major incentive to bring a good field and they got well supported today. “His form has been in the book, in fairness, and he’s just done a few things wrong. “Today we took the hood off him, we thought with it on in the National Stakes the last day he just didn’t show his true potential. “He ran nicely in the Vintage at Goodwood behind the same horse (Zavateri). “Jack gave him a lovely ride, he jumped, went forward and got a lovely position. “In fairness when he asked him he really knuckled down. He’s definitely a group horse and you’d have to maybe give him a go at the Dewhurst now and see. “He’s a typical Wootton Bassett, he’s all there, he’s a strong traveller. Once Jack really asked him at the business end he knuckled down and went away at the finish.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
