OWEN DELIGHTED AS PANTHER STRIKES @Goodwood_Races

Owner-breeder Michael Owen described Brown Panther's dominant three and a half length Artemis Goodwood Cup victory as: "A fabulous win for the yard".

A delighted Owen commented after the race: "It's a real honour to win this. To breed the winner and, with the heritage of the race, it's fabulous. He's such a consistent horse and Richard has given him a great ride. We kept him near the lead just in case there was no pace and because he's packed with stamina. Tom (Dascombe, trainer) and Andrew Jackson who rides him out every morning have done a great job with him, they told me he was the best they ever had him today and they were spot on. For me it's great to win a race like this - in partnership with Andrew Black as well."

Brown Panther had been running creditably in defeat, most notably in the Irish St Leger last year. Owen added: "He's so consistent, having been third in the Irish St Leger. It was a poor race at Chester but he won at Pontefract and has now won here which is fabulous."  

Owen admitted the race had left him very nervous: "You feel out of control, the trainer and the jockey have to do their job but there is nothing as a owner I could do. It's a totally different feeling to football as in many ways I've got nothing to do with it."

The former England striker outlined a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup (November 5) as a future target for the five-year-old son of Shirocco, adding: "We thought about the race last year and there's no change this time around, we plan to do it. He's a relatively young horse who hasn't been over-raced so we are thinking about it."