'Almost human' horse who helped owners through pandemic races for Goodwood glory

04 August 2023 , 13:08

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Roger Varian's trainee is fancied to add to his record – and earnings of just over £170,000 – in Friday's Coral Golden Mile (Image: PA)

When a six-figure offer came in for Royal Ascot winner Perotto, his number one fan had the final say.

Ten-year-old Layla Keighley told her father Liam, the horse's part-owner, they couldn't part with him. Not just a quality performer, Perotto had lit up their world during dark days of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've taught Layla that money doesn't buy happiness," said Liam, co-manager of syndicate Halcyon Thoroughbreds with friend Jaimie Beers.

"She loves Perotto like all of the owners do – and overhead someone from Australia wanted to buy him. There's no way we were selling."

A snip at just under £30,000, the miler has been a bundle of joy for his eight owners. When he was sourced as a yearling three years ago, Covid-19 had brought the world to a juddering halt.

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People tragically lost relatives, businesses folded and sporting events went ahead without a fan in sight. Perotto ran nine times before his group of owners could all get together to watch him at Goodwood in June 2021.

"Perotto got a lot us through the pandemic," said Bournemouth resident Keighley.

"Businesses were struggling and he was a light-hearted distraction. A picture, or video showing his funny personality, brightened their world."

"Perotto got a lot us through the pandemic," said one of his co-owners (Getty)

Partial to an apple, the endearing five-time scorer developed a special bond with groom Pauline Priez and Marcus Tregoning's assistant manager Angie Kennedy.

"Perotto gets annoyed if you don't shake his tongue when you greet him," Liam said. "He's almost human. He won at Sandown last time out, skipped back in and turned himself around for the photos.

"He went straight for my pocket to see if I had one of his favourite Pink Lady apples in there."

Perotto's victory at Goodwood in 2021 put him on course for the royal fixture's Britannia Handicap, where he nudged Oisin Murphy towards the leading rider award. Roger Varian's trainee is fancied to add to his record – and earnings of just over £170,000 – in Friday's Coral Golden Mile.

"Perotto loves Goodwood and so do we," added Beers.

"He has been the type of horse that owners dream about, taken us to the biggest festivals – he thrives off his racing."

Melissa Jones