Alphonse Le Grande became only the second horse in history to win the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch twice when coming with a late rattle to foil a major gamble on Sea Lantern at Newmarket.
The Tony Martin-trained seven-year-old stayed on strongly under 5lb claimer Patrick McGettigan to cut down 4-1 favourite Sea Lantern who had hit the front with less than a furlong to run, with the winner landing the historic handicap by a short head. The well-backed Dawn Rising, runner-up 12 months ago, was third, with High Fibre fourth.
The victory repeated Alphonse Le Grande’s 2024 win, seeing him emulate Aaim To Prosper who won the race in 2010 and 2012.
Martin – who was serving a three-month suspension which meant Cathy O’Leary held the licence when Alphonse Le Grande struck two years ago – said: “I couldn’t believe it, I thought we had ruined our chances by running two weeks ago at the Curragh. But he’s such a tough little horse he pulled it out the bag. He keeps turning up when we need him and on better ground he finds another gear.
“I didn’t know we had got it, but I’m delighted he got the right result in the photo – I just need to make sure the jockey weighs in!
“He has never ridden for me before, but he came up and sat on him in the week and I loved the positivity. He did exactly what we asked him to do when we had a good chat with him in the week.
“He rode in the race last year and for a fellow of his age he really shone there today. I was hoping it would happen, but you can never be sure a 5lb claimer would be capable of doing that and he was excellent.
“I knew they had started racing early and I wondered had he overdone it a little bit, but we were tracking the right man turning in and he was a length off Ryan Moore and it was great for a young lad to have the patience to do what he did.”
He added: “I thought the ground was gone two years ago when he won and I probably shouldn’t have run him at the Curragh last time. But he’s such a tough and durable horse and he’s bounced back. Luckily the weather has held, he got his ground today and we got a great result.
“He’s only seven and if he comes home safe and sound we can have plenty of fun with him again next year.”
For Brian Ellison it was a bittersweet result, as Sea Lantern returned defeated but with his Malton handler dreaming of bigger days ahead.
He said: “He’s run an unbelievable race and he got a bump which I’m not sure if it cost him. He’s run brilliant.
“He’s a really good horse and I think he could definitely be a Group horse. He’s so laid-back, it’s gutting we got beat but we’re so pleased he ran so well.”
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