MYSTERY surrounds the unusual gamble that saw an unfancied 22-1 horse – who had previously finished last, tenth and last – storm to victory at just 10-3.
Owner Steve Packham was shocked to see Brighton winner Executive Pool go off at such a short price.
Happy days! Owner Steve Packham debriefs @hayleyjanemoore on Executive Pool’s @BrightonRace win, plus says Royal @Ascot is very much on the agenda for his beloved Goshen… pic.twitter.com/vAlSmsV0iO
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 7, 2022
And he admitted he had no idea where the money for his runner had come from.
The Gary Moore-trained horse was making just his fourth start when winning from the front in the 3.00 yesterday.
He was available to back at 22-1 on Monday night before incredible market support saw him go off at 10-3.
Packham – owner of infamous Triumph Hurdle faller Goshen, who also won here three years ago – couldn’t believe the horse’s starting price
He said: “It’s absolutely incredible.
“We don’t really know where all the money came from if we’re being totally honest. We backed him as we would do anyway, but I was shocked when I looked at my phone last night.
“His two-year-old career was always going to be a bit of a waste of time, but we wanted to give him that experience and he’s come into his own over the further distances.”
The three-year-old had previously finished last, tenth and last again in his only other runs.
That was before he was gelded at the end of last year. This was his first start since after 194 days off the track.
He took the field along in the 1m4f Class 6 event and had a couple of lengths in hand heading into the final furlong.
Drifting and idling in front, he just got home in front under Darragh Keenan ahead of the rattling home Sugar Candie – scooping the £2,970 prize.
Packham – part of the Dubai Five partnership who own the winner – revealed where the name came from.
He said: “We actually met in Dubai at the Executive Pool there where we decided to buy, hence the name.
“One was in Turkey today, as well as another in Wales, but they’re absolutely thrilled to have that celebratory feeling.”
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