Godolphin’s star sprinter Deprive survived a thrilling photo finish to retain his undefeated record at Royal Randwick with a devastatingly close Show County Quality 2019 win first-up.

The Denman five-year-old had been the star of the winter in the Sydney sprint races including his last start Listed June Stakes (1100m) success at Randwick run on a Heavy (8) track on June 8.

He had different conditions for his spring return racing fresh on a Good (4) Randwick track over further distance in the Group 3 $160,000 Show County Quality (1200m).

Despite the firmer going and more metres, the punters were keen to take Deprive and the James Cummings-trained galloper jumped the clear $3.40 favourite before settling fifth the fence.

Jockey Rachel King was aboard for his two latest Randwick wins last prep and retained the ride in the Show County Quality.

“He was very good today,” King said post-win.

“Relaxed well early and probably peaked on his run 50 metres from home but he’s just so tough, wants to win. Wish they all tried like him.”

She had the favourite improving towards the inside once on the straight and, after finding the room she needed to get through 250m out from the line, Deprive made the run with plenty coming for him late.

There was a late charge from the Team Hawkes-trained Trope who really got going and nearly rained on the punters’ parade.

The commentators were declaring a dead-heat Show County Quality result immediately after looking at the photo, which made it look like there was nothing between the favourite and More Than Ready four-year-old Trope on the line.

Trope flashed home late really quickening in the last 80m with Tommy Berry – fresh off his exciting victory on potential 2019 The Everest filly Libertini in the Silver Shadow Stakes – aboard the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas runner-up.

“Good run. They didn’t go as quickly as I thought they would. The winkers were good for him, he’s going great, super,” Berry said of Trope.

After much debate however, Deprive was declared the narrow Show County Quality winner, while the trifecta was rounded out by Jason Deamer’s last-start July Sprint winner Bon Amis.

Also impressive in the closing stages was the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained American import Con Te Partiro who caught the eye flashing home for fourth.

Deprive is now five-from-five at the Randwick track and King has him tipped a potential Group 1 horse this prep.

“It’s great for him to come back in this sort of form,” she said.

“Such a tough little horse. First-up over the 1200m with just the one trial.

“He’s only going to improve off today.

“He’s just got the best attitude, he just wants to win.

“I hope [he turns into a Group 1 horse], hopefully with my name next to him.”

Cummings said it was a relief to get the first-up run out of the way and described the race as a “nail-biter.”

“It was a nail-biter,” the in-form horseman said post-win.

“Trope is a pretty capable galloper with an impossible finish. We’re honoured and a little flattered to have beaten him.

“Deprive was a bit fresh and wanted to get up on his hind legs momentarily. Good to get that run out of the way.”

Cummings is now weighing up the spring options for Deprive and said the stable were considering a trip to Melbourne for the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield Racecourse on September 21.

“He’s still winning at Randwick – he’s five from five there. We’re tempted to try him in something in Melbourne like the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes,” he said.

All-in Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2019 betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au list Deprive a $14 chance in markets led by Regal Roller Stakes winner Begood Toya Mother.

To back the Show County Quality winner Deprive next race at the right price visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2019 Show County Quality Results: Finishing Order

Place	#	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Br.	Wgt.	SP
1	7	DEPRIVE	James Cummings	Ms Rachel King	–	1	53.5kg	$3.30F
2	12	TROPE	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Tommy Berry	0.1L	9	53kg	$4.60
3	3	BON AMIS	Jason Deamer	Jason Collett	0.2L	8	54.5kg	$8.50
4	4	CON TE PARTIRO (USA)	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Sam Clipperton	0.7L	3	54kg	$19
5	6	CASCADIAN (GB)	James Cummings	Kerrin McEvoy	1L	10	54kg	$7
6	2	DOTHRAKI	Peter & Paul Snowden	Nash Rawiller	1.1L	7	57.5kg	$26
7	11	CATESBY	Grant Allard	Ms Kathy O’Hara	1.2L	2	53kg	$31
8	13	BALLER	Anthony Cummings	Glen Boss	1.7L	5	53kg	$4.60
9	5	DELECTATION GIRL (GB)	Kris Lees	Brenton Avdulla	3.2L	11	54kg	$51
10	10	MANDYLION	Joseph Pride	Jay Ford	4.7L	6	53kg	$21
11	9	ARTLEE	Rebecca Dunn	Blaike McDougall (a)	4.8L	4	53kg	$201
–	14	LISDOONVARNA (NZ)	Amanda Turner & Mauro Poletti	–	–	0	–	–
–	1	DREAMFORCE	John Thompson	James McDonald	–	0	–	–
–	8	HANDSOME THIEF (IRE)	John & Chris Meagher	–	0	–	–