Haggas on roll as Rex Imperator storms out of stalls

This was a victory made in Yorkshire. Haggas – responsible for Sky Bet York Stakes winner Mukhadram seven days previously – was born in Skipton.

The horse’s owners, George Turner and Steve Parkin, the boss of the Brighouse-based Clipper Group and Guiseley Football Club, are based in the county.

And winning jockey Neil Callan discovered the temperamental horse because Parkin – his personal sponsor – had wanted a runner in Dubai during the winter before Rex Imperator took a dislike to racing in the Middle East .

However, the four-year-old is coming into his own after being tamed by the Haggas stable and acclaimed “horse whisperer” Gary Witheford before this 27-runner, six-furlong cavalry charge over the idyllic Sussex Downs.

“This means a lot because a friend of mine and I found this horse for my sponsor and some friends to go the Dubai Carnival last year,” said Callan.

“He went out there and it just didn’t suit him – it was probably the heat or whatever. He has always had an issue with the gates – and he just melted out there.

“We literally had to bring him back to England and go back to basics with him. We sent him to William and, between him and Gary Witheford, they have done a magnificent job to get him relaxed and get him in the gates.

“I always knew that this horse was going to be good, that’s why we found him, and I am glad that he has won a big one.”

Equine guru Witheford said Rex Imperator has been one of his greatest challenges as he spent a month trying to persuade the horse to consent to going into the stalls without rearing up and knocking out the handlers.

“With him, you have to keep him very tight to you, walking slowly but getting closer and closer to the stalls. You just drop the chain and get him in,” he explained.

“I got a text from Willie Haggas on Thursday asking what stall we wanted. I said 28 or 26 on the outer and we got the latter, which meant he was due to go in the stalls second last. In fact, he went in last because the 28 horse went in early.”

His wife and assistant Maureen, a daughter of legendary jump jockey Lester Piggott, represented Haggas. “This really has been a team effort,” she said.

While the aforementioned Parkin led the celebrations, George Turner was an unfortunate absentee – his plane, which took off from Leeds, broke down en route to Goodwood.

This victory followed up the success earlier in the week of Ebor-bound Harris Tweed who is owned by the trainer’s father Brian Haggas.

Meanwhile there was controversy in the Grade One Markel Nassau Stakes when John Gosden’s lightly raced outsider Winsili was a surprise winner under William Buick, providing the jockey with some consolation after missing out on The Fugue’s success in the corresponding race 12 months previously.

A messy race, Winsili – likened to a “road runner” by Gosden because of her inability to stand still – left Richard Hughes with nowhere to go on the 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Sky Lantern, the pre-race favourite.

Hughes was fuming afterwards – he is still bitter about Sky Lantern’s defeat in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting when Buick’s mount Elusive Kate veered across the track in the closing stages. However Hughes, an exasperated champion jockey, said Sky Lantern was “the best horse in the race” and he pointedly referred to the winning rider as “Mr Buick” in a slightly disrespectful tone.

He added: “I had the daylight to go and Winsili has rolled 
down and pushed me back in behind.”

Both Buick and his best friend James Doyle, the rider of the fast- finishing second Thistle Bird, picked up whip bans for their driving finish that will kick in on Ebor day at York.

As for Winsili who could head to the USA for the Breeders’ Cup, Buick said: “I got a nice run through and she is very game.”

The jockey – who has shown great coolness after his two winning rides against Sky Lantern which have divided many in racing – was mentored at Doncaster’s Northern Racing College by David Williams who saddled his first Glorious Goodwood runner as a trainer when Take Cover was denied a success in the Stewards’ Sprint Stakes by a nose.

The Bawtry trainer said: “He looks a real Ayr Gold Cup horse now but he may need to win to get in that race.”

Meanwhile Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart’s Moviesta, co-owned by QPR manager Harry Redknapp, is set to reappear in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival after his Goodwood sprint success on Friday.