Goodwood triumph is timely as Ryan eyes Nunthorpe

Now in-form Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan can add Massamah to his Nunthorpe armoury after an all-the-way win at Glorious Goodwood that preceded Frankie Dettori’s memorable success in the Ladies Day feature for stayers.

It also offers the York executive some consolation after Sir Henry Cecil confirmed that the unbeaten Frankel, a brilliant winner of the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, will miss next month’s Juddmonte International.

The Galileo colt, owned by Khalid Abdullah, holds an entry for the August 17, but Cecil has all but ruled out a trip to the Knavesmire.

The Newmarket handler believes a return to Ascot on Champions Day will be his final start of the campaign, but expects Frankel to return next season as a four-year-old.

“I was thrilled and he seems fine afterwards. I’m looking forward to the next time he runs,” said Cecil whose Twice Over will now take on Aidan O’Brien’s Eclipse victor So You Think in the Juddmonte.

“He’ll have one more race and he’ll have a rest. If he’s well, he’ll run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and then the idea, all going well, is that he’ll stay in training next year.

“Then he can go for the Juddmonte and things like that. You’ve seen him four times already (this year) and hopefully if we don’t abuse him, you’ll see a lot of him next year.”

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, added: “Henry has always said he should end up at Champions Day, most probably in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

“The Juddmonte might be a little soon as it’s three weeks away. I believe he will stay in training next year and we’ll look at ending it there but, again, that is up to the Prince. I think the Breeders’ Cup is unlikely this year.”

Though the five-year-old Massamah is already a two-time York winner this season, the Group Two Audi King George Stakes was a step up in class.

It made no difference. The 4-1 contender shot out of the stalls in the hands of Jamie Spencer and was never passed.

Brought across to the stands’ rail, he soon took another length out of the field once Spencer got to work and won by a length-and-three-quarters.

“He doesn’t have to make it (the running), but I got a great start on him – when you get that, you don’t give it away,” said Spencer.

“He travelled beautifully and I sent him on at the two-furlong pole. He’s one of those horses who only does what you ask him. He gets five furlongs really well and five-and-a-half is probably his best trip.

“Kevin has only had him two seasons and he has really improved. From being a handicap winner, he’s a Group winner now.

“He wouldn’t like it too soft, but a bit of ease wouldn’t harm him as he’s a big, strong horse.

“He’s just very fast when he breaks quickly.”

Ryan added: “He has gone from strength to strength this year and he’s a very easy horse to train.

“I was only a bit worried about the track, as I thought he would be better on a flatter course.”

Owner Dr Marwan Koukash added: “That’s my first Group Two in this country so I’m delighted.

“He won very well so, on that show, the obvious place to go is the Nunthorpe Stakes.”

Yet, while this was another notable victory in a memorable summer for Ryan, it was not as dramatic as Opinion Poll’s triumph in the Artemis Goodwood Cup – a two-mile marathon that the aforementioned Dettori was winning for a third time.

A contest of fluctuating fortunes, it looked like pacesetter Overturn, the Donald McCain-trained dual purpose hurdler, had the race at his mercy when he pulled seven lengths clear in the home straight.

Yet he was quickly reeled in by Dettori’s mount, the 9-2 favourite, who looked like he was going to be a comfortable victory for Godolphin.

But, in the final furlong, stablemate Lost In The Moment stormed home under William Buick, despite stamina doubts, and would have been the certain winner if the race had been five yards longer. The official winning margin was a head, with the runner-up now bound for the Ebor at York.

In a frenetic finish, Malton trainer David O’Meara’s Blue Bajan was a neck further away in third with Mark Johnston’s Fox Hunt fourth after appearing not to take to Goodwood’s unique undulations.

This win provided some consolation to Godolphin after the ill-fated Rewilding lost his life in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in a race won by the Buick-inspired Nathaniel.

Thrown from Rewilding, Dettori still has a sore ankle and was unable to honour this top-class success with his trademark flying dismount.

“He’s an honest horse and never runs a bad race,” said Dettori who later received a two-day suspension (August 11-12) for using his whip with excessive frequency.

“He’s got a lot of courage and is a very hard horse to pass.”

Simon Crisford, racing manager to owners Godolphin, said: “We were a little worried about the drying ground because he prefers it a little softer.

“But that was a good performance and a terrific ride from Frankie, who has got a fractured toe but he’s still riding at the highest level.

“I’d imagine the new two-mile championship at Ascot in October (Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup) would be tailor-made for him.

“Lost In the Moment ran a great race. He’s in the Ebor and we’ll a have a look at that.”