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| Staff Writer |
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Blue Prince caused an upset in the HKJC World Pool Handicap at Goodwood yesterday, storming home to deny Billyjoh in a pulsating finish to the seven-furlong contest.
The David Evans-trained 3YO, partnered by David Probert for the first time, unleashed a devastating turn of foot in the closing stages to score by a length and a quarter. Racingbreaks Ryder took third, with Miss Information filling the frame in fourth.
Probert, who kept his mount settled off the strong early pace, said: "They went plenty hard enough and the race set up nicely for him. I was surprised how well he picked up. When I asked him, he's really lengthened."
The jockey added: "He's probably in between trips, but he does see the seven out well. He's a nice horse who could pick up another good pot."
Evans, who has his string in flying form, had expressed confidence pre-race. Probert confirmed: "David was pretty confident beforehand that Blue Prince would run his race."
The gelding, known for his fiery character, behaved impeccably in the preliminaries. "He can let himself down at times, but he was very chilled out considering it was a hot day," Probert noted.
Co-owner Gary Hignett was elated post-race, saying: "This is brilliant. This horse has had a few hard-luck stories but he deserved this the way he picked up."
Hignett revealed Blue Prince was an inspired purchase from a Tattersalls online auction as a juvenile. "We had seen him win a good race at York over six furlongs," he explained.
The victory capped off an exhilarating second day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, with Blue Prince announcing himself as a sprinter-miler to follow.