Laa Rayb triumphs in Mile

Opting for blinkers for the first time worked wonders for Laa Rayb, who landed the Totesport Mile to give Mark Johnston his fourth winner at Goodwood this week.

The revitalised five-year-old, who has failed to score since landing a Group Three at Deauville last August, travelled well under Jimmy Fortune, quickening in the closing stages to beat Spectait by two and a quarter lengths, with Docofthebay and Webbow third and fourth.

"I don't think I've ever had an easier run round," said Fortune. "The ground on the rail is so much better and he's won like a good horse. The blinkers have obviously made a difference."

Johnston said: "You can't give up on horses with that much class. He's obviously got his quirks and a lot of miles on the clock.

"He's probably benefited from a bit of a gap between his races as well. We gave him a nice break coming here, and that seems to have made the difference - along with the blinkers.

Powerful

"He's perhaps not looked in love with the game in the past, but producing him right on the day is the key."

Guy Upton, representing Spectait's trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, said: "He would have liked a bit more daylight and he didn't travel very well early on in the race, but once he was switched wide he flew home.

"While he's running well on the Flat, we might as well keep him going. He's very high in the handicap so we might try and find a conditions race."

Dick Turpin put his rivals to the sword in the Group Two Richmond Stakes to maintain his unbeaten record with a powerful display of sprinting.

Richard Hannon's juvenile justified strong market support as he cruised into the lead in the final quarter of the six furlong dash.

And when jockey Richard Hughes kicked for home, his mount found another gear to power home by three lengths from runner up Buzzword.

"It took me nearly 100 yards to get him to stretch - he's a very tall horse," said Hughes.

Thrilling

"I was a bit worried at the start. He was a bit uptight and he's a bit uptight coming back in.

"But in the race he was good and relaxed, and lengthened well at the end. He was having a look and changing his legs. He needs a little break now as he's a bit on the weak side."

Hannon added: "He's run three times and won three - that was Group race so he's done nothing wrong at all.

"I think we'll sit tight with him for a month and then look to something at the back end.

"He came from the Tattersalls Ireland sales, so he could run in the sales race (Fairyhouse) as that's worth a lot more money than even a Group race."

Earlier in the day course specialist Illustrious Blue wore down long-time leader Warringah in a thrilling finish to take the Coutts Glorious Stakes.

Warringah and Ryan Moore made a bold fist of things from the front but the William Knight trained six-year-old reeled him on the home straight to score by a neck.

Legend

"To bring him here for this meeting, and for him to win at Glorious Goodwood and provide me with my first Group winner, makes him a legend," said Knight.

"He came to me as I was first starting out as a trainer and he's progressed all of the time."

The Rolf Group Stewards' Sprint Stakes went to Yorkshire based Johannes, who swept into the lead passing the one-furlong marker to score by a length and a half from Northern Dare.

"This has been the plan all year for Johannes as the owner (Andrew Nicholls) always comes here and has always wanted a winner, said trainer Richard Fahey.

"It's great this horse has been able to do it for him."