FUJAIRA PRINCE may be so fragile his legs could be made of glass…but get him on a racecourse and he shatters the rest.
Roger Varian’s gelding has had so many problems over the years that yesterday’s Ebor was only his eighth time in three years.
But five of them have ended in wins, the latest Europe’s richest handicap, when he became the first favourite to land the odds in 13 years.
Varian is obviously a trainer of some talent, but he’s clearly a dab hand at patience as well – he’s certainly needed plenty of it with this lad.
In June he returned from three days shy of a full year off to turn a competitive Royal Ascot handicap into a procession.
This time it wasn’t quite a cakewalk, but from the moment Andrea Atzeni overhauled front-running Glencadam Glory with a couple of furlongs to go, you could put the glasses down.
True, Tim Easterby’s outsider did try and fight back, but really the battle was won, and although Verdana Blue flew at the line, by then he was only playing for third place by then.
What a story it has been with the Prince. What a triumph it has been for Varian. By rights there should be a sign on the horse’s stable reading “Handle With Care.”
The trainer has definitely done that, and now been repaid with another triumph on the most bitter-sweet of days.
Varian wasn’t at York, spending it with his parents instead, as it was ten years and one day since his brother Chris was murdered.
That was always going to be the main focus of his thoughts, but at least Fujaira Prince’s victory gave some cause to smile.
Varian said: “He is a wonderful horse and I really am grateful to (owner) Sheikh Mohammed Obaid because he has been incredibly patient.
“He’s a horse who has been very delicate to train and the expression ‘made of glass’ would really apply to this guy.
“This horse has needed nursing and wrapping up but when he gives us days like this and the one at Royal Ascot, he is worth every bit of the patience.
“We space his races out and the biggest number he has ever had in a season is the three he had last year.
“We’ll try to match that this time but I’m not sure if he is a Melbourne Cup horse. We obviously like the idea, but you can’t take anything for granted with this guy.”
The irony is, of course, that when he arrives with a clean bill of health, there are few staying handicappers in the same league as Fujaira.
How apt that a Prince should reign in the rain. And there was plenty of it yesterday, although that just played into his hands…or his most delicate of legs, at least.
Jockey Atzeni admitted: “The ground came up perfect for him and he is just so easy to deal with. He travelled beautifully and it was all very smooth really.
“To be honest I have had very little to do with him. The last time I sat on him was at Ascot, when he was very impressive after so long off, but he is so straight forward.
“I’m the jockey, not the vet, so don’t know exactly what his problems have been, he is just very fragile and Roger has been so patient with him.
“He has clearly had his issues so fair play to Roger for sticking with him.”
And as for this being Europe’s richest handicap…well a consequence of this most freakish of years means the prize is “only” £250,000 – a quarter of the usual pot.
Not one to be sneezed at, even so…although you suspect Atzeni was only half joking with his pay off line: “It’s nice to win the Ebor, but it’s a shame it isn’t worth £1 million.”
Still not bad for a day’s work, though…
