Centennial bounces back

Gosden's charge holds off Top Lock, while odds-on favourite Patkai disappoints

Last updated: 24th August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Centennial bounces back

Centennial: Goodwood victory

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Centennial sprung a surprise to take the rescheduled Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur at Goodwood on Saturday.

John Gosden's charge was sent of a 12-1 shot for the Group Two contest after disappointing since winning the Classic Trial at Sandown earlier in the season.

He was sent to the front from the outset under Jimmy Fortune and held off 9/2 chance Top Lock to win by one and a half lengths.

Outsider Scintillo, 16/1, was two lengths back in third, while 8/11 on favourite Patkai did not appear to handle the track in fourth, as did Godolphin's expensive yearling Meydan City who brought up the rear.

Gosden said: "That is the ground he had first time up at Sandown and it is the first time he has had it again since. He clearly handles that sort of surface (good to soft) very well.

"I trained his mother (Lurina) and she was a miler, but being by Dalakhani there is plenty of stamina there and he wasn't stopping at the end.

"It was my fault he wasn't left in the St Leger. I will discuss it with the owners, but there is enough money in the pot from today if they decide to supplement."