• Glorious Goodwood

Noble Mission topples Michelangelo

Tom Queally drives Chachamaidee clear to win the Lennox Stakes, © Getty Images

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Michelangelo's St Leger bubble was burst as Noble Mission landed a thrilling renewal of the Gordon Stakes on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.

After an impressive win at Newmarket last time, Michelangelo was expected to take this Group Three prize on route to a tilt at the Leger - but he was comfortably put in his place.

William Buick brought Michelangelo with a challenge at the head of the straight, but the favourite laboured to get in a threatening position and he was a spent force when pressed by Noble Mission and Encke.

Noble Mission will always live in the shadow of his full brother Frankel, but he is making up into a top-class animal in his own right. And after being worried out of things at Royal Ascot, Noble Mission had every chance to throw in the towel as he became involved in a sustained battle after travelling to the front with ease.

But Noble Mission refused to throw in the towel and rallied for jockey Tom Queally to snatch the prize on the line. The win will be a major fillip for trainer Sir Henry Cecil who could not make the trip to Goodwood as he is recovering following cancer treatment.

Chachamaidee handed Cecil and Queally a quick-fire double as she ran out an impressive winner of the Lennox Stakes.

Queally held his mount up at the back of the pace and just like Noble Mission, she made ground with ease and the race was over from the moment she swept to the front at the furlong pole. Libranno had a nightmare passage, being repeatedly denied a run, and flew once seeing daylight for second but it is unlikely the result would have been affected.

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