Darragh Keenan takes Goddess of Fire to surprise Doncaster victory

The one-mile contest is usually confined to retired jockeys with such stars of the sport as Julie Krone, Mick Kinane, Sir Anthony McCoy and Joseph O’Brien among those on the roll of honour. However, this year’s renewal was confined to professionals only due to Covid-19 restrictions, with Frankie Dettori among those keen to support a contest that has raised more than £1.1m for Jack Berry House and the National Racing College since its inception in 2010.

Despite having been placed on his last couple of appearances at Beverley and Wolverhampton last month, the John Ryan-trained Goddess Of Fire defied 33-1 odds under her apprentice rider.

Irish-born Keenan’s only moment of alarm came when he was unseated from Goddess Of Fire on his return to the winner’s enclosure.

He said: “She just spooked at the camera. She can be a bit tricky, even at home. I ride her out every day, so I know her well. I like the filly and I won’t hold it against her!

“It’s been a while since I had a winner – I’ve had plenty of rides, but the winners have been dry enough. You just have to keep trying.

“I’ve been in Britain for just over four years.

“I work for John Ryan and I’m in there every morning. I ride out for as many people as I can, if they want me.

“I do my best to work as hard as I can and hopefully the results will come in the end and the winners will come more often.”

Around 2,500 spectators were present at this raceday – the first time crowds have been present since mid-March due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

However the afternoon was overshadowed by the announcement that spectators will not be permitted to attend the final three days of the Leger meeting, a decision which is expected to cost the course £250,000.

It means the rest of the fixture continuing behind closed doors – including the long-awaited reappearance of Frankie Dettori’s 2019 St Leger hero Logician.

The John Gosden-trained grey is unbeaten in five starts in all, but has been sidelined for much of the season after he suffered a life-threatening infection during the winter.

However the defection of Zaaki with a bruised foot means Logician will face a solitary rival – Mythical Magic – as he returns to action for the first time since his runaway Leger win last year under Dettori.

Speaking ahead of the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Conditions Stakes, owner Prince Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe ventured: “It truly is good to see him back.

“It has been well documented he did have a serious illness, peritonitis, over the winter, so we are going slightly into the unknown with him.

“All the indications have been positive in terms of his well-being. His work has been progressive. He’s never been a fancy worker, so it’s always hard to tell what level he’s at, but John is happy enough with him, certainly.

“Of course, he’s going back to Doncaster which obviously was the scene of his most important triumph, albeit over a lesser distance. There’s only one other horse left in the race now. Hopefully it will be an important stepping stone.”

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James Mitchinson