Godolphin struck in the September Stakes at Kempton late on Saturday evening, but it was Prince Bishop who eclipsed their leading Emirates Melbourne Cup contender Royal Empire in a thrilling climax to the Group 3 event.
Sheikh Mohammed’s global operation had four horses nominated for the Flemington showpiece this week and Royal Empire would appear to be at the top of the pecking order after his strong staying performance in Newbury’s Geoffrey Freer Stakes last month.
The four-year-old son of Teofilo was sent off the 9/4 favourite for the September Stakes over 2400 metres on the back of that defeat of Red Cadeaux and was the pick of stable jockey Silvestre de Sousa, with trainer Saeed bin Suroor also running Prince Bishop and fellow Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby responsible for eighth-placed Masterstroke.
De Sousa had Royal Empire prominent throughout and appeared to have made a race-winning move when striking for home inside the final 400 metres.
However, Kieren Fallon aboard Prince Bishop gave earnest chase and with a strong challenge in the dying strides forced a photo finish, which earned him a head victory.
The Godolphin pair pulled three-and-a-half-lengths clear of David Lanigan’s Emirates Melbourne Cup entry Main Sequence, who finished in third place.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: “Royal Empire ran very well with his penalty which he had to carry after winning at Newbury, but Prince Bishop showed a great attitude and responded well to Kieren's urgings. It was a well-fought finish.
“We gave Silvestre the choice. Royal Empire is a possible runner from Melbourne but it depends on the quarantine.”
Main Sequence has become somewhat of an enigma with his Lingfield Derby Trial win and Epsom Classic second followed up some indifferent efforts, such as when sent off favourite only to finish 13 lengths adrift of soccer star Michael Owen’s Brown Panther in fourth place at Pontefract.
Lanigan said: “He put his last run at Pontefract behind him at least. It wasn't a bad run and he doesn't help himself by being slowly away.
“He has a couple of options now, and I'm tempted to drop him back to a mile and a quarter.” (racingvictoria)