Thought a Worthy Voltigeur winner
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Great Voltigeur Stakes result and replay:
1 Thought Worthy (W Buick) 9-1
2 Main Sequence (T Durcan) 13-8 Fav
3 Encke (M Barzalona) 7-1
By Ashley Wishaw
John Gosden looks to a have major hand against Camelot in the St Leger after Thought Worthy benefited from a brilliant ride by William Buick to win the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
The 9-1 chance set only a modest gallop in the early stages of the mile-and-a-half contest, but he quickened the pace before the home turn and caught his rivals cold.
Early on Buick set fractions of 13.7 seconds and 13.47s per furlong but then kicked for home with sectionals of 11.77, 10.78 and 10.96 which left the other jockeys for dead.
His advantage was eroded as they headed inside the last couple of furlongs, with 13-8 favourite Main Sequence the biggest threat. But the John Gosden-trained Thought Worthy gave Buick everything he had as the line approached and held on to claim the Group Two prize by a neck.
"He's nothing but improved this year and I hope that when the St Leger comes he'll be ready," the winning jockey told Racing UK.
"He galloped well and stayed very well. He battled on well and stuck his head out. You have to admire a horse like this because he always tries his best."
Gosden added: "The great thing about having an outside draw in a small field is that you can watch everyone. William gave him a very smart ride and nicked three lengths travelling into the home straight.
"His brother (Lucarno) won this and went to the Leger and won. There is no reason why he shouldn't run either. We always thought he could be a Leger horse."
Gosden is intent on putting up a strong challenge to Triple Crown-seeking Camelot at Doncaster on September 15.
"They are all there to run (in the Leger) if they are in good order. Shantaram was due to come here but he had mucus in his lungs and Great Heavens has improved all year. They (the owners) have been talking about the Prix Vermeille (for Great Heavens), but we'll see," said the Clarehaven handler.
Thought Worthy is now as short as 8-1 for the final Classic of the season, but is 14-1 with Ladbrokes. Camelot is a best-priced 4-9.
Trainer David Lanigan said of Main Sequence: "It turned into a bit of a sprint and it's just one of those things. He's done nothing wrong, but we'll see how he is and how he comes out of this before we make any plans. Take nothing away from the winner, William Buick rode a great race."
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