skip to main content

Fujaira Prince justifies Ebor favouritism at York

Updated / Saturday, 22 Aug 2020 17:39
Fujaira Prince has now won five of his eight lifetime starts
Fujaira Prince has now won five of his eight lifetime starts

Fujaira Prince followed up his Royal Ascot success with victory in York's Sky Bet Ebor Handicap.

Roger Varian’s grey was a rare winning favourite in one of the Flat calendar’s most notoriously difficult handicaps.

But just as in the Copper Horse Handicap at Ascot on his seasonal return two months ago, the 11-2 favourite proved he was ahead of the assessor – this time holding off a late rally from long-time leader Glencadam Glory (25-1), who admirably outran his odds. 

Andrea Atzeni had the winner handily-placed early on but reined back as Glencadam Glory took the field along at a decent pace on rain-softened ground.

Fujaira Prince then hit the front in the final furlong as the field moved towards the stands side, and the six-year-old held on comfortably despite his dwindling advantage, winning by half a length.

There was another length back to Verdana Blue (9-1) in third, with Monica Sheriff (11-1) two and a quarter lengths behind in fourth.

Atzeni stressed that great credit must go to Varian for readying Fujaira Prince to win two such competitive handicaps.

"It's a brilliant training performance to keep him sound," he said.

"He’s obviously had his issues, and is very lightly-raced. We hope he can stay sound, and we can have a lot of fun with him.

"That was always the plan after Ascot. He was very impressive that day, after having a year off.

"We came into this race very hopeful. (But) it was testing, obviously soft ground and hard work – we didn’t go mad.

"But he travelled nicely, and galloped all the way to the line."

Atzeni does not yet appear convinced, however, that Fujaira Prince should head for the Melbourne Cup in November having won a race which is considered a stepping stone to that event.

"The Melbourne Cup, I know it’s two miles, but you need a horse with speed, and is probably a mile-and-a-half horse really," he added.

"This fella is just an out-and-out galloper, he doesn’t do anything fast. Whether he’s got that early tactical speed for a Melbourne Cup, I don’t know."

John Quinn will consider top-level targets at home and abroad for Safe Voyage (4-1) following a thoroughly impressive display in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.

The likeable seven-year-old won the Group Three John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock last summer and opened his account for the current campaign with victory in the Listed Surrey Stakes at Epsom on Derby day.

A respectable fourth behind the high-class Space Blues in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on his latest appearance, Safe Voyage was soon bowling along in the lead in this Group Two assignment under Jason Hart.

Dual Prix de la Foret heroine One Master went in pursuit after getting in the clear, but Safe Voyage found plenty for pressure in front and passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand.

Hart said: "When Silvestre de Sousa's horse (Shine So Bright) came out, I knew there might be a lack of pace so I thought it might be an idea (to making the running).

"He’s a very versatile horse. The only thing with him is he wouldn’t want firm ground, so I was happy this morning when I saw the rain.

"It’s my first Group Two winner. When it’s wet, soft ground like that, he thrives on it."

Certain Lad (10-1) finished with a flourish to provide Hollie Doyle with another big-race victory in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes.

The record-breaking rider opened her Group-race account aboard Dame Malliot in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in July and doubled her tally with Extra Elusive in last month’s Rose of Lancaster at Haydock.

Having chased home Extra Elusive on Merseyside a fortnight ago, the Mick Channon-trained Certain Lad came home strongly in the last of the nine furlongs to claim the Group Three prize by half a length from Epic Hero.

Lord Glitters, winner of the race in 2018 and the favourite to regain his crown, finished third.

Doyle said: "He gave me a great ride. We went a nice gallop today and the further I was going the better.

"He hit a bit of a flat spot, but once I got daylight he was tough. He’s a well-travelled horse, to say the least.

"Mr Channon has done a great job with this horse. He can be quite highly strung, but today the lid was fully on."

There was a sad postscript to the race, after it was confirmed the William Haggas-trained Miss O Connor had suffered a fatal injury.

The five-year-old mare had led under Tom Marquand, but faltered two out before being pulled up and quickly dismounted.

Acklam Express (10-3F) registered a third straight win as he came out top in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes under Tom Marquand.

Nigel Tinkler's Hamilton and Goodwood scorer displayed courage as well as class in seeing off Queen Of Rio and Nomadic Empire by a nose and a head respectively.

Tinkler said: "I thought he was going to fade away with 100 yards to go and finish third or fourth, but he kept trying.

"The jockey said he hated the ground, but he’s very genuine and he’s puled it out of the bag – it’s brilliant to win a Listed race at York.

"There are some races in France he might just go for. I think he’s better on quicker ground."

More stories on

Read Next