Proclamation Pounces For Sussex Glory

Proclamation narrowly foiled Soviet Song in a thrilling finish to the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes at a wet Goodwood today.

The three-year-old colt, ridden by Mick Kinane and trained by Jeremy Noseda, came from last to first to take the Group One feature over a mile.

Proclamation (3-1) burst into the lead a furlong out and did enough to keep last year´s winner at bay by half a length.

Ad Valorem was two and a half lengths further away in third. Kinane deliberately missed the kick on Proclamation and dropped his horse out at the rear of the field with Soviet Song also at the back.

Kieren Fallon set the pace on Ad Valorem with Mac Love and Kandidate close up.

Ad Valorem stuck to his task well when joined by the pack three furlongs out, but he had no answer to Proclamation´s finishing burst.

Soviet Song stayed on strongly without ever quite getting to the winner. Kinane told BBC Sport: 'I went a bit sooner than anticipated because I was always going to be the last to play my cards.

'But the opportunity arose for me to make my move, fly down and get Johnny (Murtagh on Soviet Song) as he was moving through and hold him a bit.

'I thought I´d make my move and if can come and catch me, all well and good. He is a high-class colt.' A delighted Noseda said: 'He´s got a huge turn of foot and loads of talent.

'I asked Mick to be the last one to deliver his challenge but when he saw the opportunity to put Johnny back in the box, that´s what he did.

'The horse got there a little bit too soon, but he has always had a mass of talent.

'I´m delighted and a lot of credit goes to the team at home.' Soviet Song´s trainer James Fanshawe said: 'She is still the queen but Proclamation was king today.

'The trouble was that on this holding ground you can´t quicken up as well as on faster ground. She´s run a hell of a race and Proclamation has won, but our filly has run a very good race to come second.

'She settled really well today and she got a bit warm before the race. She does like to come with a run.

'Proclamation sprinted clear and Johnny couldn´t keep up with him at that stage. But she stayed on very well.

'We´ll see how she comes out of the race, but we´ve got the Breeders´ Cup in mind at the end of the season.

'Whether we go for the QEII or the Sun Chariot a week later and the Matron Stakes on the way, I don´t know, but that´s the rough plan.'

Murtagh added: 'Maybe she didn´t quicken as well on the soft ground.'

? PA Sport