Henry de Bromhead and jockey Billy Lee enjoyed their first visits to Goodwood on Saturday as they teamed up to win the Gr2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes with Term Of Endearment.
Term Of Endearment made a successful comeback at York in May, when Night Sparkle and River Of Stars filled the places, and today Carmel Acheson’s mare confirmed her superiority over those rivals.
Term Of Endearment returned at 15/2 after taking the lead a furlong out, with Night Sparkle going down by a three-quarters of a length in second and River Of Stars the same distance back in third. Free Wind, the 11/4 favourite, finished last of the eight runners.
Billy Lee gets Term Of Endearment up to win smartly (Pic – Goodwood Racecourse)
De Bromhead said: “It is my first runner here – we’ve had a lovely time, we’ve been well looked after and we’re having a great day.
“I am not sure I ever go anywhere with confidence, but Term Of Endearment had won a couple of Group Threes, so it seemed like the natural progression. She is probably settling much better, so we can ride her closer to the pace.
“Before, we always felt she needed soft ground, but I think that was more to bring out her stamina. I was concerned about the ground here today, but she seemed to love it.
“All options are open. She’s in the Irish St Leger and I think there is a nice race at York, so we’ll see.”
Billy Lee said: “Term Of Endearment has done it well. She jumped nicely and got me into a good rhythm the whole way. It’s my first time here but I was following Oisin – I tracked him through and this filly picked up well down the hill.
“My only worry was this is the quickest ground she has been on, but she cruised into the race. I was probably there a bit too soon, but I knew that she would stay and she is as fit as a flea from Henry’s. I committed and, to be fair, she galloped all the way to the line. As in York, she just drifted left a bit, but I had no worries and she wasn’t going to stop.
“I think she is maybe improving. She handled that ground really well and even a step up to two miles might not be out of her reach. It would be nice to see how far she can go.
“We are getting a break from Galway today, so that’s not a bad thing. It actually rode straightforward here – it’s a unique track and some horses take to it. Thank God, she did.”
Andrew Balding said of Night Sparkle: “I am very pleased – she has run a great race. She has put in three really good efforts this year and deserves to win a Stakes race at some stage. She’s got York options, so we’ll have a look. Top of the ground is important to her.”
River Of Stars’ trainer Ralph Beckett said: “She ran very well. I think they go quicker in three-mile chases, don’t they?! She ran a sound race and we’re pleased with her. We will wait for the Park Hill, probably.”
Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2)
1 Term Of Endearment (C Acheson) Henry de Bromhead IRE 5-9-09 Billy Lee 15/2
2 Night Sparkle (Barbara Keller) Andrew Balding 5-9-09 Oisin Murphy 8/1
3 River Of Stars (Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC) Ralph Beckett 5-9-09 Rossa Ryan 11/2
8 ran 11/4F Free Wind (8th)
Henry de Bromhead – 1st Qatar Goodwood Festival winner
Billy Lee – 1st Qatar Goodwood Festival winner
