Dorset delivers in Goffs Million for Ballydoyle

Dorset held on to complete a big-race double at the Curragh for Aidan O’Brien with victory in the Goffs Million.

It was English raider Homestrait, who had not finished outside the first two in seven starts, that was first to show in Europe’s richest two-year-old contest as Brian Ellison’s charge set the pace for the first half of the race.

Dorset took it up just over three furlongs out with Andrew Balding’s New Monarch hot on his heels, but Jack Cleary was always in charge as his 17-2 shot galloped home one-and-a-quarter lengths clear of August George with the winner’s stablemate and 5-6 favourite Composing taking third.

O’Brien had earlier seen Hawk Mountain win the Beresford Stakes and stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “It’s fantastic to win this race. Fair play to Goffs for putting up a pot like this, it’s a major incentive to bring a good field and they got well supported today.

“His form has been in the book, in fairness, and he’s just done a few things wrong.

“Today we took the hood off him, we thought with it on in the National Stakes the last day he just didn’t show his true potential.

“He ran nicely in the Vintage at Goodwood behind the same horse (Zavateri).

“Jack gave him a lovely ride, he jumped, went forward and got a lovely position.

“In fairness when he asked him he really knuckled down. He’s definitely a Group horse and you’d have to maybe give him a go at the Dewhurst now and see.

“He’s a typical Wootton Bassett, he’s all there, he’s a strong traveller. Once Jack really asked him at the business end he knuckled down and went away at the finish.”