Newmarket:Aegean Prince maintained his upward trajectory by securing a decisive victory in the G3 St Simon Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Friday, 30 October. The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old showcased his prowess in his first Group race appearance, following a dominant performance at Haydock Park.
According to Wam, Aegean Prince, ridden by Kieran Shoemark, initially followed Al Qareem in a clear second among the six competitors. The horse made a strategic move towards the far rail over four furlongs out, gaining a clear lead past the three-furlong mark.
Royal Playwright momentarily appeared poised to challenge Aegean Prince approaching the final furlong. However, Aegean Prince responded strongly, winning by two lengths and bringing his career record to four wins from six starts.
Jockey Kieran Shoemark commented on the race, stating that Aegean Prince had a clean start and that he anticipated Al Qareem's early lead. Shoemark felt the pace was not overly fast, and noted that while Al Qareem faded quicker than expected, Aegean Prince quickened well and finished strongly. He described Aegean Prince as a classy and lightly raced four-year-old, suggesting that the horse may improve physically with more racing experience.