Old Borough Cup hero Aegean promises to be more than a handicapper

Aegean Prince overcame an absence 320 days to bolt up in the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap and leave the gelding’s connections Godolphin dreaming of Group-race glory.

Winning jockey William Buick, who landed a treble on the runaway seven-and-a-half-length winner after First Law and Asia Force in the preceding two races, smiled when asked whether the Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old had been a Group horse hiding in a handicap.

“It is a phrase that is used often, but it doesn’t always materialise – hopefully he will go that way and certainly he could not have done much more. It was impressive and he is going to be a very exciting horse going forward.”

Aegean Prince took up the running in the one-mile-six-furlong contest a quarter of a mile from home and when asked to quicken by Buick quickly extended and won easing up under top weight with his ears pricked.

“He is still learning and jumped both roads, but got in a bit of a rhythm after that. It was soft enough for him, he wouldn’t mind a bit of cut in the ground, but he wouldn’t want it as soft as that.

“Today was a step up for him. He has been off for a while and the team have done a great job. They have taken their time with him and been repaid.”

Asia Force led home stablemate Galilean Quality in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap to land a one-two for Middleham trainer Karl Burke and the middle leg of Buick’s treble.

The three-year-old gelding, a winner at Carlisle last time, built on that promise to make all at 13-2, holding the lead for most of the contest and running on well and eased close home to win by a length and a quarter.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Sheikh Juma Dalmool Al Maktoum, felt staying was going to be the gelding’s game next season with the Chester Cup mooted as a possible first target.

“He is still a baby and he will be better again next year, but he seems to find the pace he is happy with and just keeps going. Three out he had them all at it in behind and the one thing he is not going to do is stop,” said Robinson.

“He wouldn’t want it too quick, for all that it was quick enough at Carlisle and he set the course record. We might find one more race for him this season then put him away, but he might be a nice Chester Cup horse next year as he will definitely get two miles and might get a bit further.”

David Egan was another to get on the scoreboard more than once, landing a double with victories on Amo Racing’s Poatan (9-1) in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap over five furlongs and Brian (5-1) in the HKJC World Pool Handicap over seven furlongs 35 minutes later.

Like Aegean Prince the pair both carried top-weight to victory.