This race had an element of revenge about it. Perhaps they should have billed the race as Ben Hur 2.
You may recall the race in July during which Elusive Kate beat Sky Lantern after drifting across the track. The trainer of Sky Lantern, Richard Hannon junior, lost the stewards inquiry so took the case to an appeal. A rare event in racing.
Jockey Richard Hughes is adamant that his Sky Lantern would have won that day but for William Buick steering Elusive Kate into his path.
The Hughes/Hannon team lost the appeal and the racing authorities refused to return the fee the owners had to pay to be granted an appeal. Which was mean of them.
But on Saturday Sky Lantern was well clear of Elusive Kate and won with something to spare.
I watched the race in the company of someone who doesn’t understand race tactics.
“How will he win from there?” I was asked as Hughes ‘switched off’ the beautiful grey Sky Lantern and deliberately brought up the rear. He was biding his time and waiting for that great feeling when “they are all coming back towards me.”
That’s what he told me when we sat down for a half on camera chat at his home in late November 2012. He talks to me about his favourite way of racing, of which jockey he idolised as a youngster and his long and hard road to being a champion.
Sit back and watch that interview here.