Racing manager Graham Skeats was delighted to see the talented, but injury-prone, Set The Trend show his class by taking Listed honours in the West Sussex County Times On House Stakes at Goodwood.
Andrew Balding’s five-year-old has reportedly suffered numerous setbacks during his relatively short career, but his ability is certainly not in doubt.
Ridden positively by Jimmy Fortune, the 10-1 chance had his rivals in trouble at the top of the home straight and he repelled all comers to register a one-and-a-quarter-length success from The Rectifier.
Skeats, racing manager for winning owners Corbett Stud, said: “We’re delighted with that and we’ve always known he was a capable horse.
“He’s just very, very fragile – he’s had more fractures than you can shake a stick at.
“Jimmy has got the tactics spot-on, so all credit to him and credit to Andrew for managing his well being.
“I think we’re going to Europe with him, with a bit of luck.
“There’s a race in Hamburg in June and there’s a race in Dusseldorf in July.”
Amanda Perrett’s Sir Glanton (40-1) edged a pulsating three-way fight for victory in the Worthing Herald Maiden Auction Stakes.
Favourite Lethal Force went to the front inside the final furlong but was claimed by Sir Glanton right on the line.
Minal finished between the pair and passed the post just a short head away in third, but the stewards later adjudged Lethal Force had caused interference and promoted Minal to the runner-up spot.
Perrett said: “We thought that he might just need the experience but they went a good clip and came back to him a bit. It was very exciting.
“He’s had quite a hard race today so we’ll just see how he comes out of it, but something back here for the Glorious meeting would probably be on the agenda.”
The judge was unable to split Another Try (8-1) and Alfresco (10-1) in a thrilling finish to the News Veterans’ Handicap.
The Alan Jarvis-trained Another Try held a narrow advantage, but John Best’s dual course and distance winner Alfresco benefited from a power-packed Kieren Fallon ride and joined him on the line.
Jarvis said: “He’s very genuine and always tries very hard. Harry (Bentley, jockey) gets on with him very well.
“We’ll see how he comes out of the race, but he’s entered at Lingfield on Saturday and he could go there if he’s all right.”
Richard Hughes and 9-2 shot Byrd In Hand comfortably claimed division one of the Bognor Regis Observer Handicap.
Winning trainer John Bridger said: “That was smashing. He’s still a big baby and he’s just needed a lot of time. The penny has just dropped.
“It’s lovely to win a race at Goodwood and he’ll probably come back here again.”
Division two went to Stan Moore’s 5-1 chance Wishformore, while The Dancing Lord (5-2 joint-favourite) took the Chichester Observer Selling Stakes for Bill Turner.
The closing West Sussex Gazette Handicap went to Robby Bobby (6-1).