ONE of my many highlights at the 2010 Glorious Goodwood festival was watching Illustrious Blue take the Artemis Goodwood Cup by wearing down 33-1 shot Electrolyser in the final furlong.

The victor is now entered for the Melbourne Cup — among other European entries — and has a great chance of breaking the 'duck' of English trainers in this, the greatest of the races down under, in November.

If ever proof was needed of the truth of the old adage 'horses for courses,' Illustrious Blue, trained by up and coming handler William Knight, provided it.

The race changed dramatically four furlongs out when the front-running Age of Aquarius, the 4-6 favourite, broke down. Another casualty was Tactic, the second favourite, who went wrong coming down the hill. Illustrious Blue's jockey, Jim Crowley, said later he believed from that point he was always going to emerge the victor.

He had a great fight with Electrolyser from two out, but the seven-old by Dansili, the same sire as Harbinger, eventually came home by a length and a quarter.

"It's great to have had such a tremendous horse at this stage of my career," said Knight, aged 35.

"He came to me as a three-year-old after he had won his maiden at Goodwood because his owners are local. He gave me my first Listed winner, my first Group Three and now my first Group Two.

"He likes Goodwood because he can handle the undulations, which not all horses can, and there's a long straight. Round a sharper track he just isn't able to quite get there," he added.

Age of Aquarius went home to Ireland and although his injury will take 12 months to mend, he will be all right as a sire.

No summing-up of the festival on the Downs would be complete without a mention of the two Richards — trainer Richard Hannon and his jockey Richard Hughes — who monopolised large sections of the big event.

Hughes ended up with a record nine winners, including the game Canford Cliffs, and Hannon passed the 200-winner mark during Goodwood.

The tough Bordlescott, a year older than Illustrious Blue, warmed up for his attempt at a third consecutive victory in Nunthorpe by winning the Audi King George Stakes.

Ridden for the first time by Kieren Fallon, he made some fine sprinters look second rate.

"He's been coming to hand as he always does at this time of year," said trainer Robin Bastiman. "I think he is better now than ever."

Although he won by just a neck, Canford Cliffs, the 4-6 favourite, comfortably had the measure of Rip Van Winkle, partnered by Ryan Moore, with a gap of three and a quarter lengths back to Premio Loco, running the best race of his career, in third.

Hannon's widely-expressed fears that Ballydoyle riding tactics would make it difficult for Canford Cliffs, who started from an extreme outside draw, proved groundless.

When the gates opened, Hughes settled his mount straight out the back, and both Encompassing and Beethoven kicked on up front.

Richard Hannon rates Canford as the best horse he has ever trained — and, boy, has he got some good ones!

The weather held fair for most of the five days, until the dreaded sea fret — which dogged the last day in 2009 — returned on the Saturday, along with heavy rain.

But, all in all, it was a wonderful festival of superb races and close finishes and just makes me lick my lips in anticipation of next year — and not just for the delicious picnics!