San Francisco Frontiers - Kingscote revels in being the 'villain' of Sussex Stakes shock

The 39-year-old Englishman had been instructed to set the pace on the Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old for the odds-on favourite Field of Gold in the Group One mile feature.

However, Field of Gold never picked up pace at the crucial moment and it was only Rosallion of the fancied runners that threw down a challenge but Kingscote had enough to hold him off.

Kingscote, soon to leave for Hong Kong, may have felt like a villain but Beckett laughed and said "I do not feel that sorry for spoiling the party".

"We were there as a helping hand to go an even gallop," said Kingscote.

"However, he is a horse that likes the track and Ralph said even though we are here to help let him run his best.

"I feel like a villain! However, when I saw it was not a grey nose (Field of Gold) coming to me I thought give it my all.

"I am delighted and for Ralph, who has been a staple of my career for 15 years now."

For Field of Gold's handler John Gosden his star never really fired.

"He has done nothing wrong," said Gosden.

"He was sitting back a long way, that is life.

"He ignored the pacemaker and paid the price."

Wednesday was a stark contrast for Beckett compared to the opening day on Tuesday.

Beckett's stable star Kinross was withdrawn shortly before his race, but the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes put a smile back on his face.

Dead heats are rare enough, but one shared by stablemates even rarer than a penny black stamp -- Beckett's duo of Tabiti and Saqqara Sands, though, could not be separated by the judges.

Rossa Ryan, who had been on board Kinross, managed to conjure up a final burst from Saqqara Sands and pin back Ryan Moore on Tabiti.

"My daughter was laughing at me because I was going 'go on Rossa, go on Ryan, go on Rossa…'," laughed Beckett.

"I have definitely not been involved in a finish when two of my horses dead-heated before. William Easterby just told me his father (Tim) did it at Pontefract about 10 years ago, so I am in good company.

"It is one to remember."

- 'Such a buzz' -

Moore did not have to share the honours in the next, though, as he eased home on Irish runner Lady Iman in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes -- a fortunate winner for him as regular jockey Colin Keane is suspended.

She was the 17th filly to get the better of the colts in this sprint.

"Ralph (Beckett) said I looked like one of the Beverley Hillbillies," joked trainer Ger Lyons about his panama hat.

"I am delighted for Tony O'Callaghan the owner and breeder who gave me lots of breaks. Just goes to show you you can be a long time in the game and you still make mistakes as I did in her previous race.

"I will go back to the US for the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Sprint this year with her, if I am allowed to, as I got such a buzz out of the meeting last year," added Lyons, who won the that race with Magnum Force last year.

Aidan O'Brien had taken the feature race on Tuesday, the Goodwood Cup, and his son Joseph got off the mark at this year's meeting in the first on Wednesday -- Omni Man coasting to victory in the handicap.

The race was marred by a serious injury suffered by Tuscan Star, who was pulled up immediately by his jockey David Probert and returned in the horse ambulance.

L.Nguyen--SFF