“Great Ride”: Million Dollar Chase Hero Retired

REIGNING Million Dollar Chase champion Handsome Prince has run his last race after succumbing to a back muscle injury in a trial on Tuesday.

The career ending injury comes less than a week after his electrifying Bulli victory in 22.13 which was to be the stepping stone towards a crack at a second straight Million Dollar Chase triumph.

"It's extremely disappointing but that's racing," said trainer Peter Lagogiane.

"He's given us some great memories but at the same time it's hard not to think about what might have been had it not been for the ongoing injuries we've had with him.

"But we'll give him his chance at stud now and he will live the life of luxury.

"He's more than earned that – just a very special dog."

HANDSOME PRINCE SECURES MILLION DOLLAR CHASE

Handsome Prince, a son of top US sire Sh Avatar and See Blue's Girl, retires as the winner at 11 of his 28 appearances with a further eight placings.

His stake earnings of $1.036 million places him as the sixth highest money earner of all time.

Bred and raced early doors in Tasmania by Pat Ryan, Handsome Prince was purchased by owner Shakeel Latimer just six weeks out from last year's TAB Million Dollar Chase which he went on to win in fairytale fashion.

The emphatic victory handing Lagogiane two of the first three MDC runnings after Mystic Riot won the inaugural event in 2018.

"It's a night I'll never forget," Lagogiane said.

"More for the way it all happened. To get him just six weeks out from the race in the hope that he might measure up and see it play out like it did was a fairytale.

"Making it even more special was that he beat champions like Tommy Shelby and Flying Ricciardo to do it."

NEAR RECORD TRIAL HAS PRINCE ON TRACK FOR EGG

Following his MDC heroics Lagogiane ventured to Sandown Park with Handsome Prince for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, but after running a blinding 29.13 in a trial, dislocated a toe in a heat when finishing fourth.

"How he only got beat a few lengths in his heat I'll never know," Lagogiane said.

"His toe was in a real bad way. He was off for a long while with that toe injury and it's just been one thing after another with him since unfortunately.

“That's the way with the real good ones usually. They're too fast for their own good.”

Boasting some sizzling winning times beside his name, Lagogiane was quick to place Handsome Prince on par with his former star racer Beast Unleashed in terms of unbridled ability on the track.

"This dog could trial anything," he added.

"He'd run 18.30 at Richmond regularly and break the 14 run-home. When he was up in Brisbane he went 24.07 post-to-post which they said was one of the quickest five times ever at Albion Park. 

"With his ability, race record, temperament and breeding I'm sure breeders will have a good look at him at stud.

ORIGIN LOOMS FOLLOWING “SENNACHIE LIKE” TRIAL

"He's got plenty going for him so we'll get him registered and let breeders know when he's up and running.

"It should work in really well with the start of the breeding season."