Wood drove home Candy and Run Boy Run in the Silver and Gold Cups at Ayr’s three-day festival sponsored by Ladbrokes with both horses trained by Richard Spencer and owned by Phil Cunningham
Jockey George Wood was all smiles as his football team won a huge local derby and he doubled up on the track. The Liverpool fan saw Arne Slot’s side hold Everton 2-1 at Anfield to make it five from five in their Premier League title defence.
As the match was concluding, Wood was preparing to ride a horse named Candy in the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup – and the sprinter did not disappoint as he scooted clear to bag the first prize of £33,000. Then it was Run Boy Run’s turn, a leading fancy for the Gold Cup worth £92,000 to the winner. From a low draw, the consistent type made virtually all of the running to hold off Desert Falcon in a close finish.
Both horses were trained by Richard Spencer and raced in the colours of owner Phil Cunningham, who names many of his horses after his favourite music tracks.
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As well as the lucrative money on offer from sponsors Ladbrokes, the contest was worth plenty to followers of the stable, as the double came in at cumulative odds of 116-1. And despite the brilliant results, Wood looked particularly thrilled when ITV Racing presenter Natalie Green mentioned the 247th Merseyside Derby.
“There’s a bigger smile about that than the flippin’ win!” she said while conducting the post-race interview after Run Boy Run’s success.
Wood, who attends as many football games as he can outside of his race-riding commitments, responded: “Yeah it was awesome, they are playing well this season and have got to keep it up.”
About the horse’s performance, he commented: “He really enjoyed the ground today. He made a big effort in the Portland last week and he has freshened up really well. It turned out we were on the right side and it was great.
“He deserved a big one and it’s great for Richard and Phil because they have brought 11 runners up here this week and have been knocking on the door.”
The afternoon was another high in a fine season for the trainer who had another big first to cheer when Two Tribes beat the Stewards’ Cup field at Goodwood. He was only tenth time, while the team’s other runner Twilight Calls finished 14th. Spencer had told ITV viewers that he expected the winner to outrun his odds.
Afterwards, he added: “Run Boy Run did really well in the Portland and George was sort of thinking he didn’t go hard enough so I said to him we were going to rock and roll.
“We thought we were on the wrong side with the draw, but he’s very fast and has a good cruising speed.”
Run Boy Run is a son of Rajasinghe, the Coventry Stakes hero of 2017 in a record time. Cunningham announced earlier this year that he would offer the National Stud stallion’s services for free, as he was frustrated with the lack of interest in him.
“It’s absolutely amazing, I don’t know what to say I’m quite emotional,” he said after watching the sire’s offspring star at Ayr.