Glorious Goodwood: Alcohol Free floors Poetic Flare in Sussex Stakes to give owner Jeff Smith a famous win
Royal Ascot winner Alcohol Free gives owner Jeff Smith first winner in the Sussex Stakes since 1984; Andrew Balding's three-year-old filly beat favourite Poetic Flare and Snow Lantern; Alcohol Free third in Falmouth Stakes before Goodwood win
Wednesday 28 July 2021 16:38, UK
Alcohol Free beat the colts to provide owner Jeff Smith with a famous victory in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Successful in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Andrew Balding-trained filly attempted to make all in the Falmouth at Newmarket last time out but had to give best close home to Snow Lantern, who took her on again.
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy was determined to delay his challenge on this occasion and made sure he played his hand late.
After a slow early pace Century Dream injected some speed into it a long way from home and caught a few rivals on the back foot.
Kevin Manning set off in pursuit on the favourite Poetic Flare and on entering the final furlong hit the front - but Jim Bolger's 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes hero was soon to face a bigger challenge, as Alcohol Free (7-2) quickened impressively and went on to win by a length and three-quarters.
Snow Lantern, who could have run in the Nassau Stakes over 10 furlongs later in the week, made up plenty of late ground to claim third, the same distance away.
Smith last won the race in 1984 with Chief Singer, while he has also tasted Goodwood glory with the likes of Lochsong and Persian Punch.
Smith said: "This filly is something else, the way she has won that, it's simply incredible.
"I'm thrilled to pieces, and what a wonderful job Andrew and the whole team have done.
"It wasn't so much the opposition. I was just concerned we didn't have a repeat of the Falmouth Stakes, where she got left in the lead having broken too well. Provided she got cover and something to aim at, I felt not confident but very hopeful.
"Then she got bumped around and pushed back, but the way she picked up she showed what she really is. She's a champion.
"There's no question in my mind, she's the real deal."
