Goring, third in last year's £150,000 Sun Racing All-Weather Mile Championship, enjoyed the drop in class to record a fifth win at Lingfield Park, getting up close home to collar Raucous by a half-length under Georgia Dobie at odds of 14/1, a price which even tempted trainer Eve Johnson Houghton to have a small bet.
Johnson Houghton loves the seven-year-old and said: "He's such a dude. He's my hack, and I ride him at home when I can ride out. I'm quite emotional.
"He's won from six furlongs at Chepstow to a mile and a half at Beverley, and I couldn't believe what price he was. I had my whole two pounds each-way on him because it was an insulting price and I knew he was better than them.
"If he can get into a nice rhythm and think that he's better than them he will win. I'm so chuffed for him, and so chuffed for the owners, who have been so good for me."
She added: "This is the first time he's won over seven furlongs here, but in an apprentice race they are always going to go fast enough and this was much easier than the Mile. When he came here last year he was on a roll, but he's been so high in the handicap since then that he could never quite get on a roll again.
"This race was made for him. Georgia, who joined me in July after being in Australia, is riding really well."
GORING PROVES BEST FOR DOBIE
Goring (14/1) recorded his fifth success at Lingfield Park with a good performance in the £50,000 Sun Racing All-Weather Championship Apprentice Handicap, the first race on the £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day.
Trained by Eve Johnson-Houghton and ridden by 7lb claimer Georgia Dobie, the seven-year-old son of Areion came with a powerful run towards the outside of the field in the home straight and ran on strongly to score by a half-length in the seven-furlong contest.
The Robert Cowell-trained Raucous (9/1) was second, with a further one and three-quarter lengths back to 50/1 shot Giogiobbo, trained by Nick Littmoden, in third.
Goring was third on All-Weather Championships Finals Day last year in the Sun Racing All-Weather Mile Championship and Dobie was delighted to plunder a big prize.
Dobie, who is based with Johnson-Houghton and was registering her eighth victory under Rules, said: "Goring did it well. He was drawn in stall 14 and I thought he was going to struggle, but he jumped out well from the gates.
"He travelled lovely and it opened up well really nice for him out in front and he did it well.
"I did think seven furlongs was going to be a bit sharp for him, but he has won in the past over six furlongs when making all. He has a brilliant turn of foot and he did that brilliantly - he loves Lingfield.
"I took a pull going round the bend into the home straight to give him a breather as I knew Goring had plenty of gears left.
"He is a tough little horse who just keeps galloping to the line. It is great to have a ride in the race, let alone win it, so I am delighted.
"I'm based with Eve and I've had a few seasons riding. I went to Australia last winter and this is my first full proper winter riding in Britain and this will hopefully be my first full season.
"I'm 20-years-old and this is my eight winner, so hopefully we can enjoy a good summer."
