Jumbo Prince On Top Of Grand Prix Stakes Field

Jumbo Prince has been included in the 2015 Grand Prix Stakes field and the talented colt will have the chance to return to winning form in the Group 3 event at Doomben on Saturday.

Jumbo Prince will take on a number of other Queensland Derby contenders in the Grand Prix Stakes. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Jumbo Prince will take on a number of other Queensland Derby contenders in the Grand Prix Stakes. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Jumbo Prince stamped himself as a Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) contender when he scored a tough victory in the Toowoomba Guineas (1625m) on May 2 and he was far from disgraced when he finished third behind Sadler’s Lake and Upham in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 9.

Trainer Mike Nolan said that Jumbo Prince didn’t necessarily handle the quick back-up between his two race starts during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival to date and he is hopeful that the Outback Prince colt can produce an improved effort in the 2015 Grand Prix Stakes this weekend.

“All was good and it will be the same sort of race on Saturday,” Nolan said.

“We had to back Jumbo up seven days leading up to the Rough Habit which wasn’t ideal, but we have had the two weeks now that just allows him a bit more time between runs.

“I couldn’t be happier and I just hope that we can get a nice alley at the draws this morning.

“I’m not saying that we are going to win it, but we are a good hope.”

Jumbo Prince was settled just behind the speed when he took out the Toowoomba Guineas, but he was ridden more conservatively in the early stages of the Rough Habit Plate and he was forced to make up ground late.

Nolan said that he is hopeful that jockey Luke Tarrant will be able to settle Jumbo Prince closer to the speed in the early stages of the Grand Prix Stakes and he believes that there could be a touch of on-pace dominance at Doomben this weekend.

“Sometimes it is the only way you are going to win these races,” Tarrant said.

“The other day it was very leader dominated and it was a rush home.

“You can put Jumbo anywhere, but he probably just has to draw a nicer alley than he drew the other day to track up a bit better, but he is very easy to ride.”

The 2015 Grand Prix Stakes field was released this morning and Jumbo Prince will face a capacity field of 15 rivals in the Group 3 event.

Sadler’s Lake took out the Rough Habit Plate and will likely start the Grand Prix Stakes as favourite, while other Queensland Derby contenders like Worthy Cause, Bachman, Redoutable Heart, Upham, Rhodin Drive, Chillin With Dylan, Inauguration and Master Of Arts have all been included in the Grand Prix Stakes field.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.