DEFROCKED clung on for victory in the Britannia Stakes for Jamie Spencer and Jamie Osborne.
Spencer delivered him with a furlong to go, but Defrocked began to drift markedly to his right, deviating from his route down the centre of the track right over to the far rail.
However, he still managed to fend off the challenge of Abe Lincoln by a short head, with Chief Whip third and the front-running Arcanada fourth.
Spencer said: “I was trying to get a lead for as long as I could – he’s a high-class horse.
“It’s great for Michael (Buckley, owner) because he’s a gent and is great for this game.
“He rang me at half past eight last night to make sure I was in bed. My hell raising days are behind me.
“It’s worked out well but the last furlong was a long one. Losing that much ground is one day going to cost him.
“I should have held on to him, hitting the front that early was the wrong thing to do.
“When it started raining last weekend all my good chances had gone, this was the only one left.”
Osborne believes Defrocked can progress further from this win.
He said: “He’s not there yet, he’s a light-framed horse and is immature.
“It was a race against time to get him here but we always knew he was good enough to compete in a race like this.
“Thank god it’s gone well, he’s got his quirks, he’s gone to the right, hit the front too soon, but he’s hung on so it’s great.
“This place is like Cheltenham when I was riding, it’s where you want winners.
“We don’t have too many very good horses so when we get them you’ve got to plan them and this has been a plot since last autumn – it’s great when it comes off.”
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