Good Effort Wins The Betway Golden Rose Stakes

Last year’s winner Good Effort maintained his unbeaten record at Lingfield Park with a repeat success in the six-furlong Listed Betway Golden Rose Stakes, a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships.

In what looked a competitive contest, the well-supported 11/8 favourite raced at the head of affairs alongside Exalted Angel before settling proceedings in a matter of strides swinging off the home turn. 

Good Effort was clear entering the final furlong and stayed on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths from the 2019 winner Judicial. Soldier’s Minute was a short-head further back in third in a blanket finish for the places.

This was a fourth success in as many starts at Lingfield Park for Good Effort, who also captured the Listed Betway Kachy Stakes in 2020.

Ismail Mohammed’s assistant trainer Jose Santos said: “Good Effort is a horse we have always believed is the best All-Weather sprinter in the UK. 

“He is a real natural sprinter and hopefully connections decide to keep him here for the All-Weather Championships. 

“He doesn’t have that much mileage for a six-year-old and I think he still has plenty to offer.”

Winning rider Jim Crowley said: “Good Effort is a handy horse, isn’t he? 

“He gets a bit lonely in front having killed the race off on the bend. I had to keep him up to his work because Jose [Santos, assistant trainer] said to me that he pulled up in Dubai when Frankie rode him and just got caught.

“He is one of those horses who wins his race at halfway. He is very fast and whether it’s five or six furlongs, he has enough boot for both. I remember riding him work in Dubai and being impressed with him that day.

“He has won in France and run well in Dubai, and he didn’t run too badly in Belmont last time. It just didn’t quite work out for him because they went slow out there, which is unusual for an American sprint. 

“It’s just a question of whether he stays here for the All-Weather Championships or goes on his travels again, but it will take a quick one to beat him around here.”