Regional was a surprise winner in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday as favourite Shaquille failed to fire.
A lightly raced five-year-old, Regional was returning to six furlongs following a solid fifth in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. It was a first Group success for the son of Territories and a landmark first Group 1 victory for both trainer Ed Bethell and jockey Callum Rodriguez.
The extensive stalls training undertaken by the Julie Camacho team appeared to pay off as favourite Shaquille made a smooth exit, despite some moments of concern. The three-year-old made his own running on the far side, but as the race began to wind up at the three furlong marker, the dual Group 1 winner had nothing to offer.
Mill Stream and Regional took up the running with two furlongs to go, as Shouldvebeenaring and Believing began to make progress. Regional hit the front and engaged in a three-way battle with Shouldvebeenaring and Believing, finding enough to secure the win for trainer Ed Bethell and jockey Callum Rodriguez. Shouldvebeenaring finished second with Believing holding on for third.
In a post race interview, jockey Callum Rodriquez told ITV Racing: "It was an absolutely unbelievable performance from him, he was again so fast out of the stalls and I was so happy that he'd broken like that.
"We were in a good rhythm all the way and I felt pretty confident giving him a squeeze into the two [furlong marker], he picked up and was responding all the time. He fought off the horse on the right hand side of him and I was pretty happy then.
"It's an amazing story with this horse, picked up for three-and-a-half thousand, he owes the guys nothing, what a journey he's taken them on, it's amazing."
Trainer Ed Bethell was visibly emotional: "It's unreal really, things you dream of. I'm just over the moon, I'm in an incredibly fortunate position to take over from my father, my parents have been a big support of mine and these guys [owners] have supported me from the word go.
"The team at home have done a fantastic job and I don't think words can really describe it. I was telling myself, if we finish in the first five, we've done well but I'm over the moon and so thankful for everyone that's been around me."
Paddy Power have reacted to Shaquille's disappointing run by lengthening the colt from 3/1 to 10/1 for the Group 1 British Champion Sprint Stakes on 21 October. Regional currently holds no entries and connections would need to pay the supplementary fee.
