Decisive switch works wonders for Rebel Soldier

JEREMY Noseda's decision to swerve the John Smith's Cup at York paid off when Rebel Soldier won the Betfair Gordon Stakes – one of the feature races that kicked off Glorious Goodwood.

This was the race that Harbinger won a year ago before becoming the top-rated racehorse in the world following his breathtaking performance in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes last weekend.

It's highly unlikely that Rebel Soldier is in this class, although a tilt at the Breeder's Cup is a possibility – champion jockey Ryan Moore certainly was not over-flowing with superlatives as he returned to the winner's enclosure after winning the race for the third successive year.

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"He travelled nicely the whole way round and quickened up well off a lead," said Moore who also won the race in 2008 aboard subsequent St Leger winner Conduit. "He just got a little bit idle and lonely being out in front from the two, but it was a nice performance."

Rebel Soldier, the 4-1 favourite, was never far from a scorching pace set by Corsica, with Moore taking up the running a furlong-and-a-half out.

But the James Given-trained Dandino really found his stride close to home and was narrowing the gap with every stride, only for the post to come too soon as he went down by a head, with just a neck back to the staying-on Arctic Cosmos in third.

Noseda said: "He is an improving horse, he has worked well at home and he has done that nicely.

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When asked about swerving the John Smith's Cup, for which he was ante-post favourite, Noseda went on: "I wasn't sure he was ready to take on the hustle and bustle as he is still a bit of a baby, but thank goodness the decision to come here has been rewarded.

"I think we will go on and have a crack at the Voltigeur at York's Ebor meeting, sadly I don't think the St Leger is in his spectrum in terms of staying but we will see where we are after that race.

"He's entered in the Leger so we'll take the next step and see where we are, but in my own mind I have huge doubts about him staying and he might even be better at a mile-and-a-quarter."

Noseda's analysis was telling – he trianed Sixties Icon to win the 2006 St Leger after landing the Gordon Stakes.

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Meanwhile Gainsborough-based Given believes the Great Voltigeur and St Leger could be on the cards for runner-up Dandino.

"Paul (Mulrennan) felt he was a bit flat running down the hill and the little bit of rain we had didn't play to his strengths, but I'm not blaming the ground and he has lost nothing in defeat," said the trainer who won the opener with Indian Days who, ironically, had disappointed in the John Smith's Cup.

"The run points towards the Leger being a very sensible target and we have the Great Voltigeur in between to consider."

A likely rival in both races is Royal Ascot runner-up Arctic Cosmos – a fast-finishing third under William Buick.

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"He hated the ground and the track – he fell down the hill but I loved the way he finished the race. We came here for a Leger trial and we have been thinking of him as a Leger horse for a while," said trainer John Gosden.

"He could go to the Great Voltigeur, but not if it was firm ground, in which case we would go straight for the Leger."

Meanwhile Lord Shanakill, formerly trained in North Yorkshire by Karl Burke, won the feature Betfair Cup for Tom Queally and Henry Cecil after reeling in the well-backed favourite Dalghar.

Queally said: "He's a classy horse and people forget he's a Group One winner, his class showed today when it mattered."

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RISING star Waltz Darling heads to Glorious Goodwood today for the biggest test of his embryonic career.

Richard Fahey's two-year-old lines up in a select seven runner field due to contest the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.

Unbeaten in two starts, Malton-based Fahey is under no illusions about the task facing his charge, whose successes to date have come in a six-furlong Ripon maiden on June 2 and a Newcastle novice event over the same distance on June 24.

"Waltz Darling has done everything we have asked of him and deserves to take his place," said the trainer.

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"It is a big step so we will find out if he is good enough. He is a huge horse and was quite backward mentally, but he is fine now and we are going to step him up in class because if you don't have a go, then you don't know."

The high-class field also includes the unbeaten Brian Meehan-trained Crown Prosecutor, while in-form Middleham trainer Mark Johnston runs Stentorian, the mount of Frankie Dettori.

The highlight of today's seven-race card is the Group One Sussex Stakes over a mile, which has attracted eight top milers.

Last year's brilliant victor Rip Van Winkle is one of three from the Aidan O'Brien stable alongside Group One Dewhurst Stakes winner Beethoven and Encompassing.

Champion jockey Ryan Moore takes the ride on Rip Van Winkle, replacing the suspended Johnny Murtagh.