Two Tribes secures big-race double in Stewards’ Cup

Two Tribes bagged his second major prize in the space of a week with victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

Richard Spencer’s charge was a 25-1 winner of the International Handicap at Ascot last Saturday and was turned out swiftly under 6lb penalty for the £250,000 on the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

With David Egan again in the saddle, 11-2 shot Two Tribes was up with the pace from the start in the group that raced closest to the stands’ rail and took over the lead from last year’s winner Get It entering the final two furlongs.

His stablemate Run Boy Run looked the biggest threat over on the far side of the track entering the closing stages, but Two Tribes kept up the gallop and was well on top as he passed the post with just over two lengths in hand.

Strike Red and Jakajaro chased him home in second and third respectively, with Run Boy Run fourth and another Spencer runner in Twilight Calls fifth.

“I thought all three of them had really good chances leading into it, but Two Tribes is in great form and when you get a sprinter in this sort of form they’re hard to beat,” the trainer told Racing TV.

“Two runs in seven days is hard for any horse, but at this level it’s even harder. They’re not small fields, they’re 28-runner races and the tempo is hard.

“It’s crazy how far he’s won today, I didn’t expect him to do that in a million years, but it’s great.

“We’ve got no immediate plans, we’ll just have to see what the handicapper does – I think he’s probably going to give him a fair whack for that today. We’ll let the dust settle and see where we go.”

Phil Cunningham, who owns all three Spencer-trained runners, said: “It all happened quite quickly. Having three runners in a race like this is a dream but it’s quite difficult to try to follow them when it’s a short trip and a big field.

“It’s an amazing day. Honestly, after he won last Saturday, we weren’t going to run him today. Richard said we were going to keep him at seven furlongs but we had a change of plan on Wednesday and obviously I’m delighted that we have.

“It was a team decision but when you have a horse that’s qualified to run in a race like this, at a festival, with the prize money on offer, I think you’ve got to take your chance.

“Every next big win is probably the best one. We’ve been very lucky to have some lovely winners in the past, but you always chase the next one. Saturday winners and festival winners are what we do this for.

“Richard has done an amazing job. I thought he was brave trying to saddle three on his own but we got it done and we’ve got lots to look forward to with the group of horses that we have got, which are gradually creeping up in quality.”