Birthday Boy Baker Feeling Glorious With 125/1 Winner For Turf Club

Feel Glorious, who had been unplaced in two previous races, pulled off a 125/1 shock when landing the 17-runner Victoria Racing Club Fillies' Maiden for Surrey trainer George Baker, who was celebrating his 53^rd birthday.

The venue for the win, high on the Sussex Downs, could not have been more appropriate, as the name Feel Glorious implies. A daughter of stallion Bated Breath, she was given her name following a collaboration between the Bakers - George and his wife Candida - and Goodwood Racecourse, which last year ran a social media fashion marketing campaign titled #feelglorious. Goodwood has been following the filly since via social media, and will be taking an even closer interest in her after this memorable triumph.

To a rendition of 'Happy Birthday', sung by racegoers around the winner's enclosure and members of the Turf Club syndicate which owns the filly, Baker stepped forward to receive the winning trainer's prize, having admitted he ran Feel Glorious more in hope than expectation. Ridden by Pat Cosgrave, she won by a neck and half a length from Alhakmah (4/1f) and Welcoming (5/1).

Initially Baker joked: "I really fancied her, and thought she was a bit of a certainty today," before admitting: "No, she's a lovely filly and she disappointed me at Kempton last time out when drawn wide and did a lot of running early and just ran out of puff. Today I felt that if she finished mid-division in a hot maiden like this I would be delighted, but I didn't just bring her here for the good of her health. It's only down the road for us [he trains near Chiddingfold] and we've always liked her, but she's just been bubbling under.

"I can't pretend I told all her owners to get on at 125/1, but I knew she would run a nice race, and Pat said she was still green and a little bit weak. There's a little bit of class. One of the reasons we came here was because the Turf Club has been a great supporter of Goodwood and sponsored races at the course for years. A lot of the members are here today and I told them she would run well - I expect a few will be a little disappointed that they didn't back her at 125/1, but it's a fantastic win at our local track. What more could I ask for.

"Pat suggested we look after her and not go mad, she's still unfurnished, so that might be it for now, but she will be a lovely horse for next year."

Limited tickets are still available for Friday and Saturday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2018. Tickets can be collected on the gate.

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