Horse Racing

Illustrious Blue Wins Goodwood Cup – Glorious Goodwood 2010 Results

Illustrious Blue is the winner of the Artemis Goodwood Cup 2010, beating the odds and giving trainer William Knight a reason to celebrate. Seven-year-old Illustrious Blue ran a magnificent race under jockey Jim Crowley in the race that delivered a mind-bending result for spectators and bookmakers alike.

The Artemis Goodwood Cup kicked off with a fairly predictable set of front runners; race favourite Age of Aquarius und jockey Johnny Murtagh took the lead in the early moments of the race and held onto a 2-6 lengths head with remarkable ease for the lion’s share of the two mile race. O’Brien-trained Age Of Aquarius was followed closely by Electrolyser and Pat Robinson, who gave an outstanding display of staying power in following the fierce leader. Illustrious Blue was held up towards the rear of the field for the better part of the run.

Four furlongs from the finishing line Age Of Aquarius lost his rhythm quite abruptly and was overtaken by the entire field within moments. Age Of Aquarius received immediate medical attention, with a thorough health check revealing the colt had sustained sever ligament ruptures below the fetlock of his off-fore. His connections are intensely concerned for Age Of Aquarius’s racing future.

It was then than the race took a dramatic turn. The back of the field seemed invigorated by the sudden shift of power dynamics and set out to have a crack at new leader Electrolyser. It was seven-year-old Electric Blue, ridden brilliantly by jockey Jim Crowley, who sped along the far side of the field to catch Electrolyser on the final furlong. In a battle of wills and stamina the two thoroughbreds went head to head for most of the home stretch; however, it was Illustrious Blue who managed to pull away from Electrolyser in the nick of time, running to a 1 ¼ lengths victory over the Cox-trained five-year-old.