Trainer Mick Price and jockey Craig Newitt were both in tears following the victory of stable favourite Pompeii Ruler in a dramatic Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.The victory in the 2000-metre feature was the injury-plagued six-year-old's first in more than two years and Newitt dedicated the win to his father Guy who was killed in a car accident in February."He was the first person I thought of when I went over the line, this was his favourite horse," Newitt said."If it wasn't for
Trainer Mick Price and jockey Craig Newitt were both in tears following the victory of stable favourite Pompeii Ruler in a dramatic Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
The victory in the 2000-metre feature was the injury-plagued six-year-old's first in more than two years and Newitt dedicated the win to his father Guy who was killed in a car accident in February.
"He was the first person I thought of when I went over the line, this was his favourite horse," Newitt said.
"If it wasn't for injuries this horse would be one of the greatest going around."
Price said Pompeii Ruler would run in the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in three weeks.
"He's brought me to tears a couple of times and I'm doing it again," Price said.
"This is my first Group One in Sydney and I'm glad it was him.
"We just nursed him and nursed him and credit to Bryan Coyle, he is a very patient owner who understands the game.
"He's one of those great stories, the billionaires don't own him, the Sheikhs don't own him, just a nice bloke who bred him and that's what racing's all about.
"He's one of those unwanted yearlings, no glamour horse there, and he's part of the furniture and has probably seen 100 horses come and go, we just love him."
In a thrilling finish Pompeii Ruler ($13) emerged from the pack to win by a half-length over Sarrera ($41) and Metal Bender ($14) who dead-heated for second.
Sarrera's trainer Mike Moroney was proud of his horse and said he would also head to Singapore for the Gold Cup.
The flop of the race was $2.25 favourite Whobegotyou who finished ninth.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh and jockey Michael Rodd were called in to the stewards' room to shed light on the disappointing run.
"I'm baffled. He's performed previously over 2000 metres and on a seven-day back-up, maybe he just trained off after last week," Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh told stewards the horse would be given a thorough going over by a veterinarian when he returned to the stables.
"Let us know what your findings are because he's 12 lengths better than that," chief steward Ray Murrihy said.