OTTOMAN Emperor gave Johnny Murtagh

  • a first Goodwood Festival success as a trainer, and rider Ben Coen a first in the saddle in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes.

    • The 11/1 shot hit the front early in the straight and kept on stoutly to repel the challenge of Sir Lucan (Aidan O’Brien/Frankie Dettori), who stayed on best of all from a poor position, but was still half a length down at the line. Market leader Third Realm (Roger Varian/David Egan) was a further length and a quarter back in third.

    The winner gave the impression that he will stay further, as he was in front long enough, and was only closed down late, and both he and Sir Lucan ran decent trials for the St Leger at Doncaster in September, a race they’ve both been pencilled in for by their respective trainers.