BRIGHTON'S billionaire owner Tony Bloom could be celebrating two huge pay days early this year – thanks to his superstar horse.
But you could argue Energumene owes his owner a thing or two – after costing him £540,000 12 months ago.
Bloom, hailed as the 'godfather of gambling', was the man behind a £340,000 punt on the star chaser to beat Shishkin in the Clarence House at Ascot.
He put the mega sum on at odds of 5-4, meaning he was looking at getting £900,000 back in all.
And it looked like coming in until Nicky Henderson's runner prevailed up the hill in an all-time classic.
The heartbreaking loss left a massive hole in Bloom's wallet – but he got revenge just two months later.
Shishkin was pulled up at Cheltenham Festival's Champion Chase, a race won by Energumene.
Victory there was worth £227,000 and the horse landed his owner another £139,000 with a win at Punchestown a month later.
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Since then, their paths could not have been more different.
Shishkin was found to have a rare bone condition and although he has returned, is, currently at least, nowhere near the force of old.
Not even entered for this year's Champion Chase, Bloom's Energumene is already odds-on to win it for a second time.
He's also odds-on to go one better in the Clarence House on Saturday, January 21.
Bloom will pocket the lion's share of £100,000 with victory there.
And his bank account will be £225,000 better off if Energumene can give trainer Willie Mullins a second win in the race that had eluded him until last year.
But one of the big questions is will 'the lizard' – dubbed that because of his cold-blooded nature – risk his own cash on the outcome?
Bloom – dubbed the 'cleverest man to ever place a bet' – became mega rich through his successful sports betting and data company Starlizard.
The man loves a punt – and is incredibly good at it – so you'd have to think the chances of him wagering are similar to Energumene winning.
Especially as the nine-year-old gelding has annihilated all his rivals on his past three runs.
Jockey Paul Townend's words could influence Bloom's thinking.
Mullins' No1 rider rode Energumene to eight of his nine wins and reckons the horse is the 'complete package'.
He told the Racing Post: "Energumene has grown up a lot in the last year. He was such a good jumper as a novice that we let him roll, but now you can put him anywhere in a race and it makes no odds to him.
"I held him up in the Champion Chase last year and he settled great. We made the running at Cork the other day and he was perfect.
"It doesn't matter where you position him in a race now and that is a great asset to have.
"He felt really good at Cork (for his last win), every bit as good as he felt last season when I rode him.
"He's such a good jumper and I really enjoy riding him."
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Translated from French, Energumene means to express oneself with 'great energy and excitement'.
Bloom's bank manager could be doing the same if the horse lives up to the hype.
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