Coastal clear for Fortune.

Coastal Bluff turned a 30-runner handicap into a one-horse cakewalk as he romped home in the Vodac Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood yesterday.

High-drawn horses filled the first three places - but favourite Coastal Bluff could have run through the bookies in front of the stands and still won.

Once Jimmy Fortune sent his horse clear at the two-furlong marker the opposition was as good as dead and although Double Bounce launched a late challenge he was still three lengths down at the line.

Race veteran Sir Joey finished third just ahead of Bolshoi and Wildwood Flower, the first two to finish on the stands side.

Fortune and trainer David Barron were winning the race for the second time in three years and the jockey couldn't believe how easy it was.

"We knew he was improving, but I expected someone to raise a challenge so I kept my head down and went for the line. It was only when I saw the video that I realised how far we were in front," he said. Barron's previous winner For The Present was only sent to Goodwood at this last moment and it was the same with Coastal Bluff.

"He can't handle the going if it's too fast, but you could tell from the race times this week that the watering they'd done had made the difference and that was enough to make us send him," said the trainer.

It was enough for punters to wade in too and Coastal Bluff was cheered all the way home at 10-1.

Last Second lived up to her name in the Nassau Stakes with George Duffield delaying his winning run until the last second as usual.

"If she gets to the front too early she thinks the race is all over," said trainer Sir Mark Prescott.

Mark Tompkins and Philip Robinson proved the combination to follow at Newmarket combining for a double with Musical Pursuit and Sky Dome.

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	Sunday Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Aug 4, 1996
Words:	322
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