Elsworth runner gets the verdict in photo
Sir Dancealot got up in the very last stride to win a thrilling renewal of the Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
A field of 12 runners went to post for the seven-furlong Group Two, with the David Elsworth-trained Sir Dancealot and Roger Teal’s 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win the 5-1 joint-favourites.
Donjuan Triumphant adopted a pacesetting role for a long way, before last year’s winner Breton Rock took over in the final half-furlong.
Suedois briefly poked his head in front as the post loomed, but Sir Dancealot, who had encountered trouble in running, lunged late in the hands of veteran French jockey Gerald Mosse.
A photo-finish was called, but the judge confirmed Sir Dancealot the winner by a short head, with Suedois second and Breton Rock just a head further back in third
Tip Two Win was under pressure a long way from home and eventually trailed home last of all.
Sir Dancealot was last seen finishing fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket.
Elsworth said: “He got into more trouble than I get into in the pub on a Saturday night when I’ve had a few! Seriously, he would have been an unlucky loser.
“His level of form has been very good, which gave him a very good chance today.
“Stall four was a difficult draw for a horse that needs to be taken back a little bit and relaxed. Gerald had a problem in organising him, if you like. Everybody is trying to win. There is a lot of good luck involved and good fortune.
“We would have been an unlucky loser, but we better be gracious in victory and say it was a scramble.”
Asked about future plans, the trainer added: “We had a crack at a Group One the other day. There are lots of races for him. I put him in the Hungerford Stakes, which is another Group Two.
“Last year he used to hang under pressure. Maybe gelding him helped because of a testicle causing him discomfort. That’s why he hung left, I’m sure.”
David O’Meara said of the narrowly-beaten Suedois: “I was delighted with how he ran. I wasn’t sure how they finished. He is back as good as ever and hopefully he can win a big one before the year is out.
“He is good at travelling, so he will do that again. He was second in a July Cup and now second in a Lennox, so he isn’t doing too bad.”
