Swettenham Stud

Jeremy Noseda’s yard was flattened 12 months ago when Fleeting Spirit pulled up with a virus after finishing third in the Kings Stand Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot 2008. His next nine runners at the meeting were scratched and the last casualty was Soldier’s Tale who was floated to the races and scratched on arrival as he sought to win back to back Golden Jubilee Stakes. A slightly elevated temperature on arrival on course meant he was the last horse to succumb as was his want (being the toughest and bravest horse Jeremy has trained).

Jeremy had maintained it was the first time he had Soldier’s Tale injury free since his 2YO days. Jeremy was terribly disappointed and adamant that Soldier’s Tale’s new owners including Adam Sangster should delay his stud career and run in the July Cup. He quoted the fast finishing third of Fleeting Spirit in the Kings Stand as proof enough that he was right on the money with his assessment of Soldier’s Tale’s gallops. However, the strength of Soldier’s Tale’s first book at the time with 28 mares contracted to him including 2 Group 1 winners, the dam of a Group 1 winner and 5 half-sisters to Group 1 winners meant that such a decision was hard to make. The prospect of such a strong harem if he went to stud in 2009 was impossible to predict and Swettenham Stud decided “the bird(s) in the hand were worth much more than the bird(s) in the bush”. Despite the trainer’s protestations the horse arrived on July 28th and ended up serving an even better book of mares (see article Soldier’s Tale Served His First Book In 2008 ).

So 12 months on is it any wonder that we see Fleeting Spirit assume Group 1 status in one of the UK’s two premier sprints over 6 furlongs. Her fast finishing second to Scenic Blast in the Kings Stand 5f was a real pointer to her win in the prestigious July Cup. See Racing Post report as under.

Everyone at Swettenham Stud congratulates Jeremy Noseda on another first class training performance. This thoroughly professional trainer has again added another Group 1 race to his trophy cabinet after showing the perseverance necessary to get the best out of his horses at the top level. He rates them exceptionally well. Importantly, when adversity may prevail (when the horse is at the peak of their prowess), he still manages to conjure up the ultimate success on the rebound. Sometimes this is a season or two later as was the case with Soldier’s Tale who returned after 22 months away from the track. He knows his horses very well and they rarely miss out on their special day in the sun. (IR).

Fleeting Spirit careers to July Cup success

By James Burn (Racing Post).   10 July 2009.   Report: Newmarket, Friday

Darley July Cup (Group 1) 6f, 3yo+

FLEETING SPIRIT survived a stewards' inquiry to land the  Darley July Cup in dramatic fashion after causing interference to runner-up Main Aim.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained filly, who gave jockey Tom Queally a second Group 1 sprint success following Art Connoisseur's win in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, burst clear up the centre of the track but appeared to drift to her left, which forced Queally to move his whip to his left hand.

In turn, Fleeting Spirit (12-1) reacted by veering sharply to her right, causing Ryan Moore to snatch up Main Aim, who ran on powerfully in second. J J The Jet Plane, sent-off favourite for the Golden Jubilee, claimed third at 13-2.

Queally said: "When we jumped nobody was inclined to go on so as a result we've probably gone a shade slow in the early part of the race.

"I gave her a crack on her right and she went left and then I pulled it through immediately and then the opposite happened, but I was well on top near the end. She has a really impressive turn of foot."

Jeremy Noseda: "she deserves it". Noseda added: "This wasn't really the original plan after Ascot but we gave her ten days off and I thought I want to be around if for some reason Scenic Blast doesn't turn up.

"Then I gave her a piece of work last Wednesday and credit to the lad who rides her out as he said she'd come on an absolute bundle since Ascot.

"This is a Group 1 she deserves as I feel when my horses got sick just before Ascot last year that she was robbed of winning the King's Stand.

"She never really bounced back for the rest of the year but today was a great result and a great performance."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Main Aim's owner, Khalid Abdullah, said: "He ran a super race dropping back to six furlongs but he's certainly got hampered. This looks like his trip."

Mike de Kock, trainer of J J The Jet Plane, added: "That is probably as good as he is. It was a cracking run and he's upped his form again. Maybe after three or four runs he'll be at his peak and I am keen on running him over a mile at some point. There are a couple of options as well as the Prix Maurice de Gheest in France."