Prince Cheri ready to perform at Randwick

Warwick Farm trainer David Vandyke is expecting a first class performance from French import Prince Cheri at Randwick tomorrow if he is to justify pushing on for some major Spring Carnival targets.

the great snowman

The in-form The Great Snowman (red and blue colours) is one of the hardest to beat for Prince Cheri at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The lightly raced stallion will line up in the $85,000 Calcoup Knitwear Handicap over 1600m, his first race start since winning at his Australian debut at Canterbury in March.

Vandyke has nominated Prince Cheri for the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19 and the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26 and is expecting a forward showing on the back of two barrier trials.

“His first trial was good and I’m looking forward to him getting into a race with more pace on, he was being restrained and he was quite uncomfortable during the last trial,” Vandyke told the Sportsman.

“In a race he can get his head down and relax and I think we will see the real Prince Cheri.”

“If he is going to progress forward and be competitive in some serious Group races then he should perform very well.”

“There are some handy horses in the race and if he runs a nice race and runs a nice second or third I won’t be disappointed. But I will be disappointed if he runs midfield and misses a hole.”

Vandyke is looking forward to seeing Prince Cheri step out onto the spacious Randwick track and thinks the 1600m is the right distance to kick off his Spring preparation.

Even though Prince Cheri only won a restricted midweek race at Canterbury, Vandyke was more than pleased how he handled the unsuitable tight circuit.

“Going on his first run in Australia around Canterbury, which wasn’t a suitable track for him, I think the mile at Randwick will be more suitable for him,” Vandyke said.

Prince Cheri only had two race starts in France being arriving in Australia for a win and a second at Clairefontaine.

Bookmakers have installed Prince Cheri the $3.50 favourite ahead of the Kris Lees trained Hathras at $4.40 and the inform The Great Snowman at $5.

Hathras has had a freshen up since finishing fifth to Tremec in the Group 2 $175,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick in April while the Gai  Waterhouse trained The Great Snowman has won his last two starts in restricted class at Warwick Farm and Randwick.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.