Winkle grabs glory at Goodwood

Rip Van Winkle finally lived up to the hype as he produced an authoritative display in the BGC Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Johnny Murtagh was seen at his best on the three-year-old, kicking on a long way from home on the 6-4 favourite.

Having finished second to Sea The Stars in the Eclipse, Aidan O'Brien's charge was guaranteed to stay and comfortably saw off Paco Boy, with 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati back in third.

Fourth in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, the Galileo colt survived a late scare last night but was allowed to take his chance.

As soon as the Ballydoyle pacemaker Malibu Bay weakened three furlongs out, Murtagh took the initiative and kicked on.

Ghanaati and Lord Shanakill were first to challenge but made no impression, although Richard Hughes still had not moved a muscle on Queen Anne winner Paco Boy.

The task of trying to concede 8lb to Rip Van Winkle proved too much, however, as he closed to within two and a half lengths but never looked like denying O'Brien his fourth win in the race.

Murtagh said: "I said he was one of the best I'd ridden and he's shown he's a great horse.

"I rode him in the Guineas and he was a bit keen earlier in the year, but the team have done such a great job on him and I thought he might stay the Derby trip. At the start of the year I thought he was going to be unbeatable.

"A mile to a mile and a quarter - he will be very hard to beat from now to the end of the season.

"He's a great cruiser and he covers a lot of ground.

"He's not the easiest to train, but Aidan and the team have done a wonderful job with this horse.

"The last bit of work I rode him he started to feel like Henrythenavigator. He was following his lead horse, I eased him out and you only just have to ask him now and he just blows them out of the water.

"Coming here today I thought he was unbeatable."

O'Brien added: "I only saw the last furlong, but he's been so special all the way. He's an amazing horse and he was 10 out of 10 lame yesterday evening. It's unbelievable.

"He has always had so much speed. It's all class with this horse, and all cruise and speed. We've never had a horse with that much class.

"He had all the problems to overcome, but he's a horse we'd have no problem running in the July Cup. It's that pure speed. I didn't see the race. I hope he showed it.

"The plan was to go to the Juddmonte International with Mastercraftsman and the Irish Champion with Fame And Glory. This horse was to go back to a mile.

"We are over the moon with what has happened today and we're so pleased that he has shown everybody what he shows us everyday and having had to overcome everything yesterday evening."