Euginio game in victory at Sandown
7 July 2017
Saleh Al Homaizi receives the prize after Euginio’s game victory
Smart three-year-old Euginio returned to winning ways at Sandown Park on Friday when the snug winner of the Besso Handicap.
The only three-year-old in the field, Euginio justified favouritism under Andrea Atzeni to win by a head from Beardwood.
Euginio was a smart juvenile last year who won on his debut before running fourth in a Listed contest at Deauville.
He returned this season to run a fine second in a competitive handicap at Newmarket’s Craven meeting under top weight and trainer Richard Hannon is hopeful that he will continue to progress.
“Euginio surprised me at Newmarket,” Hannon told the Racing Post, “where I thought he needed it, but he got quite a bad knock there which is why we haven’t seen him until now, although we tried to get him ready for Ascot.
Euginio pounces under Andrea Atzeni
“He’s a horse who likes time between races and he’s a long-term project.”
Bred by Arkle Bloodstock, Euginio was purchased as a yearling by Tony Nerses for 155,000gns out of the Clare Castle Stud consignment at the 2015 Tattersalls October Sale.
The son of Fastnet Rock is a half-brother to Listed winner Handassa and out of Starstone, a Diktat half-sister to top sprinters Pastoral Pursuits and Goodricke.
