Safe Voyage win at York brings options for John Quinn

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, the 13-8 favourite, went in pursuit after getting in the clear, but Safe Voyage (4-1) 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.’’

Safe Voyage rounded off last season by finishing third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and an appearance on Champions Day could be on the agenda again.

Quinn said: “We didn’t see much pace in the race so we thought there was no point faffing about. The jockey gave him a very good ride.

“He’s ground versatile – he just doesn’t want it very quick.

“We’ll look at the QEII again and he’s in a race or two on Arc weekend. He could do both and there’s also a very valuable race at the Breeders’ Cup – a mile on turf round two turns (Breeders’ Cup Mile). You can normally get plenty of cut in the ground at Keeneland.

“That’s just a pipe dream, but it’s something to think about.’’

The William Haggas-trained One Master was not disgraced in defeat and will be prepared for a Foret hat-trick bid.

Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife and assistant, said: “She ran a good race. She was probably just a bit too far back in a slowly-run race, but it’s one of those things.

“The plan is to go back for the Foret again. She never lets us down – she’s a star.’’

Fujaira Prince followed up his Royal Ascot success with victory in the 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, who admirably outran his starting price of 25-1.

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 in third, with Monica Sheriff 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 on just the sixth and seventh starts of his career.

“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 – (so) 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 – for which he was quoted at 16-1 by Coral – 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.”