Triumphant Prince rules the Ebor roost
York win impresses RV handicapper Carpenter
Fujaira Prince (Pivotal) became just the second favourite since 1998 and the first since Purple Moon (Galileo) in 2007 to land Europe’s richest handicap, York’s Ebor (1m 6f), and set up a potential trip to Australia for a tilt at the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m).
The Roger Varian-trained six-year-old was making just his second start of the season having won the Copper Horse Handicap (1m 6f) at Royal Ascot in June and like on that occasion he landed something of a gamble, taking out yesterday’s race as the 11-2 market leader.
Ridden prominently throughout by Andrea Atzeni on testing ground following torrential rain during the meeting, Fujaira Prince toughed it out to beat Glencadam Glory (Nathaniel) by half a length, with Verdana Blue (Getaway), another with Cup aspirations, a further length and a half back after staying on late into third. Monica Sheriff (Lawman) filled fourth spot.
“That was very smooth really,” Atzeni said after partnering the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned gelding to a fifth win in eight starts.
“He jumped really nicely and the plan was always to go forward and get a nice position which he did. He travelled beautifully and stayed all the way to the line. He is a very willing partner.”
Northern hemisphere bookmakers gave Fujaira Prince quotes of 20-1 for the Flemington showpiece on November 3, and while it is yet to be decided if he will head off on his travels and attempt to go one better than Purple Moon did after his Ebor win, one man who is hoping he makes the journey is Racing Victoria’s general executive manager and chief handicapper Greg Carpenter.
“He was a very impressive winner today,” Carpenter told ITV racing. “I would love to see him come down for the Melbourne Cup.
“The entries close on Thursday so the first challenge for us is to get a nomination from Roger. They brought Ambivalent out in 2014 and I would be really looking forward to seeing this horse come down.
“We will wait and see what new mark he is on and we’ll determine what weight, but he is clearly going to have enough weight to get in the field. “It would be lovely to see an Ebor winner win the Lexus Melbourne Cup.”
Fujaira Prince is the fourth foal out of the unraced Zam Zoom (Dalakhani), who herself is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Nideeb (Exceed And Excel), as well as Suegioo (Manduro), winner of the Chester Cup (2m 2.5f). She also produced the ill-fated Nichols Canyon (Authorized), a dual Listed winner on the flat who went on to excel over hurdles, winning eight times at the highest level.