FRANKLIN D clung on grimly to land a monster gamble in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood.
Michael Bell’s four-year-old bolted up at Newmarket a fortnight ago and after drawing stall one and with Ryan Moore on his back, punters piled in to ensure he was sent off a 7-4 favourite for one of the most competitive handicaps of the week on the Sussex Downs.
Franklin D could be spotted travelling well on the far rail as the field moved inside the final two furlongs and although he had to wait a while for the gap to open, when it did the four-year-old quickened up smartly to run to the lead.
Master Of The World finished with a wet sail to give favourite-backers a fright, but Franklin D just had enough in reserve to hold on by a head.
Donncha and last year’s winner Belgian Bill finished third and fourth respectively.
Moore said: “I had to sit and probably burnt a bit of fuel at the second furlong.
“When the gap came I thought he was going to win well, but he just got a bit tired.
“I always felt we’d get a split at some point and when we did he quickened up well.”
Bell said: “He just emptied out in the last 200 yards because they went so hard early. Ryan Moore is arguably the world’s greatest jockey and he gave him a superb ride.
“This horse has had a few issues, but he’s a very well-bred horse by a very good stallion.
“The Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury could be an option, but he could be a travelling horse. He’s a stakes horse in the making on the back of this.
“How far up the ladder, we’ll have to see. He is, at long last, fulfilling his potential.”
Leave a comment