Golden goal: former top striker Dexter Blackstock hoping to score at Royal Ascot

Former Premier League footballer Dexter Blackstock could have a shot at Royal Ascot glory next week after First Prophet, the first horse he has owned, won comfortably on his debut at Newbury on Friday.

Blackstock played for three seasons at QPR but it was his years at Nottingham Forest that led to his partnership with trainer Charlie Fellowes, who is an avid fan of the East Midlands club.

First Prophet is now as short as 7-1 to follow up that Newbury victory in Thursday’s Chesham Stakes for Blackstock, who now runs a pharmaceutical company that has been providing PPE during the coronavirus pandemic.

Watch First Prophet's winning debut

"I’ve always been a fan of racing and have just been waiting for the right horse," said Blackstock, 34, who retired from football three years ago.

"Charlie thought this was a top, top horse who could go all the way, so I put the money in and we came together to give it a go.

Dexter Blackstock: spent seven years playing for Nottingham ForestCredit: Laurence Griffiths (Getty Images)

"It would be massive to have a runner at Royal Ascot. I go there most years and to have a runner is something I could never have imagined.

"It's great to be able to do this with Charlie. I think he's one of the best trainers in the country, outside of the powerhouses. He’s gradually getting better horses and once he gets those he’ll be competing with the top trainers."

Blackstock, who scored 32 goals for QPR and another 45 for Forest, is now chief executive of MediConnect, which has helped deliver hundreds of thousands of masks to NHS frontline staff.

Dexter Blackstock (right) out delivering PPE to the NHS with Bradley Johnson (left)

Blackstock has been going out to deliver the equipment personally along with current Blackburn midfielder Bradley Johnson, who is also involved in the business.

Blackstock has a proven eye for opportunity, further highlighted by First Prophet’s success, but he now faces a decision on what to do with the promising two-year-old.

He said: "He was bought as an investment but now we’re faced with a tough dilemma of whether to continue the dream of Ascot and beyond or to cash out."

Fellowes said on Saturday: "First Prophet is looking absolutely remarkable this morning and polished off his feed. We’ve still got a few more boxes to tick before we make a decision on whether to take him to Royal Ascot but I feel that straight track would really suit him. You’ve got to be a strong traveller to win there and that’s what he did so well at Newbury."

The son of New Bay, who is the sire’s first winner, is co-owned by Blackstock and Fellowes, and the trainer told how his beloved football team helped create the partnership.

He said: "I'm a huge Forest fan and Dexter was a bit of a legend there back in the day – although I’d never tell him that – and I have another owner who has a few horses with me called Joe Soiza, whose company is one of Forest’s sponsors. He introduced me to Dexter and it went from there.

"After I put a picture on social media, Dexter said he was interested in getting into ownership and the rest is history."

Fellowes added: "If the right owners came along who were interested in buying First Prophet then potentially he could be bought, but we’d have to see."

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