Novus

Novus did well to win the Listed Foundation Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday. Drawn in stall one, she missed the break quite badly and was slow to get into her stride, as she often is. Fully three lengths behind the second last horse and around six lengths behind the leader after they had gone 150 yards, she was rushed up early on to quickly make up the ground, and she had to be niggled along on the run across the top of the track in order that she would hold her position along the inside as they raced around the home turn. Sixth as they straightened up for home, she came under a ride from Rhys Clutterbuck on the far side on the run to the two-furlong marker as the runners converged towards the near-side rail. It appeared as if Botanical, who was just in front of her, was travelling far better than she was as they raced towards the furlong marker, but she stuck to her task well and she got the better of the favourite close home, getting up to win by a short head.

It was a really gritty performance by Gary and Josh Moore’s filly in her first-time tongue tie. Botanical is a talented and progressive horse who had finished second behind Enfjaar in the John Smith’s Cup on his previous run, and she showed a really good attitude in getting the better of him, with the pair of them pulling clear of their rivals. Also, the race was not strongly run, she did well to come from as far back as she was to go and win. She does go well at Goodwood, her record there now reads 12121, but she goes well at Newbury and Sandown and Newmarket too. More important to her is soft ground, so she will be of interest again now as we move more deeply into the autumn. She won the Group 3 Pride Stakes over 10 furlongs at Newmarket last October on soft ground, and she will be of interest if she goes back to Newmarket now next month.

Goodwood, 25^th September 2024