AFTER a desperate tussle throughout the final furlong, the 20/1 chance Gifted Master and 5lb claiming apprentice Jason Watson inched out Justanotherbottle to land Saturday’s Unibet Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. Growl and Solar Flair came next.

Gifted Master, trained by Hugo Palmer for Dr Ali Ridha, was set to carry 10st minus young Watson’s claim. He led the stands’ side group but Justanotherbottle and Ger O’Neill, who also claims 5lb, took over in the centre with two furlongs to travel. Declan Carroll’s 25/1 chance, whose recent form was all over five furlongs, held on until the very last stride, where Gifted Master came again to claim the prize by a short-head.

TOUGH

The winner had won a similarly competitive sprint at Newmarket in the spring before taking on classier company at Windsor and Royal Ascot, where he was predictably outpaced in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs. He scored off a mark of 111 last week, though Watson’s claim was crucial.

Palmer said: “He’s a winner over five, six, seven and eight furlongs, so his CV reads pretty well. He’s a gelding and has no stallion value so the main reason for coming was the owner’s prize money of £121,400. A listed race might be worth only 10% of that!

“Jason has given him a phenomenal ride, but so does his work rider Ray every morning because he’s quite fizzy. They have a great relationship.”

Watson, 18, rode his first winner just over a year ago and this was his 50th, reducing his claim to 3lb. “I’m not sure how to react at this stage, I’m just in shock,” he said. “I was down to ride Foxtrot Lady in this race but my agent Tony Hind said it would be worth riding Gifted Master and reckoned he had a great shout.”

The 9/2 favourite Foxtrot Lady finished sixth and was unlucky in some respects. As things turned out, the 6lb penalty for winning at Newmarket was not a vital factor in ensuring a run. Not only that, but Watson is employed by the filly’s trainer Andrew Balding. She might have ended up carrying much less than her final weight of 8st 10lb for David Probert. Typically, Balding was among the first to congratulate the young man.

Understandably, Carroll had mixed feelings afterwards, having come so close. However, Justanotherbottle clearly stays six furlongs well and the Ayr Gold Cup looks an attractive possibility if the ground is not too soft.