'Up with the best of my big winners' - Leger Legends delight for Gary Bardwell

If at first you don't succeed try, try, try, try, try, try, try and try again. Gary Bardwell was overjoyed to land the Leger Legends Stakes at the ninth attempt.

He rated success in the annual comeback race for retired jockeys as on a par with his biggest victories – which is saying something as the former dual champion apprentice won two Chester Cups, an Ayr Gold Cup and a Winter Derby in his 19-year career.

Bardwell, who retired in 2003, rides out for Godolphin and wore their colours as he got the better of Robert Winston and Shining Aitch by a short head on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Natural Colour.

"It's taken me eight years to win this and I'm over the moon," said Bardwell, 53. "Thanks to Saeed, what a pleasure to ride in these famous blue colours of Godolphin. I'm lost for words.

"I've got all my family here today – my wife, my brothers, my kids and my grandkids – so it's a special day.

"When I got to half a furlong to go I was out on my legs and I thought I was beat, but she's brave and stuck her head out all the way to the line."

Reflecting on eight previous attempts to land this prize, Bardwell said: "This is probably the first year that I've really got fit for it. I've been in training for six weeks in the gym, running every night.

"Today I didn't have one drink and had nothing to eat but a bit of toast this morning. I knew she'd give me everything and I had to be ready for her. This is up with the best of all my big winners."

Recently retired jumps champion Richard Johnson enjoyed the experience of finishing seventh on Greek Kodiac, saying: "It was good fun – they just went a bit quicker than I did over the last two furlongs.

"It's lovely to be here in this amazing weather. My wife Fiona just joked, because she obviously couldn't come to my last race because of Covid, that it's quite nice she's seen me have my proper last race now.

"It's fantastic that Doncaster put this race on and raised a huge amount of money for the Injured Jockeys Fund and different charities. It's lovely to be part of it."

Beautiful Brazilians

Ivan Furtado, who started training six years ago with just six horses, scored the biggest win of his career when Just Beautiful landed the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes under his fellow Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa.

The 11-4 favourite, who was bought for just 8,000gns as a yearling, gave the trainer his first Group-race success by a head from Double Or Bubble.

"That was unbelievable," Furtado said. "She's some filly to do what she's done. She's won five out of seven, been second in a Group 3 and ran a great race in probably the best Falmouth of the last few years.

"It's fantastic for a small yard like ours," added the trainer, who now has 60 horses in his care. "We've always liked her, she started to come to herself around September last year and we thought we had something special. Fortunately we did!

"She's the best I've had and I hope she'll help the yard and prove that if we've got the right tools we can do the job."

Delighted trainer Ivan Furtado congratulates Silvestre de Sousa and Just BeautifulCredit: Edward Whitaker

Unlucky Jim

Jim Crowley escaped serious injury in a frightening fall in the opener but missed out on a treble, including the winning debut of beautifully bred Israr, as a result.

He was reported to be "very sore" after being fired into the turf from the fatally injured Jadhlaan and was taken to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, although he was conscious and walked into the ambulance.

Robert Havlin took his place on the John and Thady Gosden-trained Israr, a two-year-old out of Oaks and King George winner Taghrooda, and steered the 8-1 shot to victory in the mile maiden, with stablemate Frantastic – a brother to the top-class Cracksman – in third.

"Israr was racing a little bit babyish but when I gave him a squeeze he was all there for me and finished it well," the jockey said.

"He picked up really well. He's nice and I hope he's got a bright future. I love his mindset."

Thady Gosden added: "I'm very happy with both of them. It was first time out and they lack experience. They're both exceptionally well bred. Frantastic got the hang of things late on.

"I just hope Jim's okay, it was a bit of a shock to see him fall."

Robert Havlin deputises on debut winner IsrarCredit: Edward Whitaker

Crowley also missed out on riding Khaadem (Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes) and Anmaat (1m2f handicap), whose victories completed a treble for William Buick after his nursery win on Modern Games.

Shadwell racing manager Richard Hills reported: "Jim is missing all the winners but he's had an MRI scan and that's clear. He won't ride tomorrow but he's okay."

Results, racing and analysis

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