Tiber Flow comes out on top in thrilling Hungerford finish
The William Haggas-trained five-year-old has always been a consistent performer in stakes company but his career almost came to a cruel end when brought down in dramatic circumstances at York earlier in the season, tipping a somersault and sending his big-race pilot Tom Marquand crashing to the ground.
Thankfully, both horse and rider escaped the Knavesmire incident unscathed and the son of Caravaggio has cut a resurgent figure since, being upped to seven furlongs to claim the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock on his very next start.
Although faltering at Goodwood in the Lennox Stakes, he was back to his best in Berkshire as he saw off previous winners Witch Hunter and Jumby to scoop Group Two honours.
The 4-1 chance was positioned towards the rear in the early exchanges, as all bar Ed Walker’s Popmaster plotted a stands-side course for home.
He was soon moving into contention in the hands of Marquand and showed his trademark guts and will to win to edge out a titanic tussle in the closing stages, with the blanket finish also including Frankel’s half-brother Kikkuli, the 7-4 favourite looking to emulate his illustrious sibling by dazzling at the track.
A nose was the official winning distance and Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant to the winning trainer, admitted she did not think Tiber Flow would be around after what happened earlier in the season.
She said: “After York, he ran the next time at Haydock and had to be pushed out to win, he’s an absolute legend and I couldn’t be more proud of him, he’s such a star.
“He wants to win and that’s a pretty hard trait to find in a lot of horses – and it’s just brilliant.
“I thought he was dead (at York). I took my shoes off and went running down the track and he just came cantering past me with his ears pricked. I promise you, we went back to the stables after and it didn’t seem to bother him, he must be as hard as nails.
“He’s as tough as old boots and a legend. He prefers softer ground in an ideal world but you just wouldn’t know, he just keeps surprising us.”
Winning rider Marquand added: “He’s a proper warrior and to have had the turbulent year he has and to come out and have the season he has since, has been brilliant.
“To be honest, he’s been a revelation since he had the fall and it’s quite remarkable. As I said after he won at Haydock, you can’t underestimate how much the team does at home to make sure these horses come to the races in peak condition.
“Chris, who rides him every day, knows when he’s on, knows when he’s off, and that’s so important when it comes to getting them back to peak condition.
“We hit the ground very hard (at York) and in a six-furlong Group race you are flying. It was relatively quick ground and it’s remarkable that he stood up all right.
“When they turn over, you can’t help but think about the worst for the horse because they are much more fragile than we are and aren’t meant to do that – I know we’re not either but we’re probably built a bit more for it.
“Remarkably, he was back less than six weeks later and getting his head in front and probably producing a career best – and now he has bettered that again, it is pretty incredible stuff.”
On the close finish, Marquand went on: “I thought I was beat. Witch Hunter came with a bit of a run and I thought it would push me forward and then right on the line I thought Jamie’s (Spencer, on Witch Hunter) nose was down and he just caught us at the wrong time. Absolutely thrilled that he didn’t.”