Prince Harada new favourite for the Golden Rose Stakes

Melbourne colt Prince Harada has been installed the new favourite for the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill in two weeks after connections decided to pay the $50,000 late entry fee.

Prince Harada

Prince Harada (white cap) is squeezed up on the fence behind Fast 'N' Rocking and Miracles Of Life in the McNeil Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Prince Harada is now the $3.40 top pick after trainer Tony Vasil changed plans and will now head north to take on the Sydney three year olds after being desperately unlucky when second to Fast ‘N’ Rocking in the Group 3 $150,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman has been snapped up to replace Steven Arnold who found himself squeezed up against the inside running rail on two occasions over the concluding stages in the McNeil Stakes.

Lauren Stojakoic on fourth placegetter Miracles Of Life and Brett Prebble on Fast ‘N’ Rocking were both suspended for twelve meetings for allowing their mounts to shift in at the 100m causing Prince Harada to be severely checked.

Arnold quickly balanced up the Haradasun colt and he flashed to the line to gain second spot and no doubt would have made the finish very close if he had received clear running.

Vasil was very critical of Stojakovic’s handing of Miracles Of Life and is also not happy with the Melbourne program options leading up to the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12.

“This is a major race and we have the situation of an apprentice who can hardly get a good ride in South Australia coming here and stuffing it up for others,” Vasil told the Herald Sun.

“You would like to think at Carnival time that the best horses are ridden by the best jockeys, not that a mature aged apprentice from interstate can come with so few credentials and play such a key roll in the outcome of a race.”

Vasil also said that he needs to go to Sydney to find a race to prepare Prince Harada for the Caulfield Guineas with no suitable races in Melbourne in the next couple of weeks.

“But we don’t have appropriate lead-up races,” Vasil said.

“We ran over 1200m on Saturday. The next genuine option is the Caulfield Guineas Prelude over 1400m, and that is four weeks away.”

“It is disappointing that you must look interstate to properly prepare for Victoria’s most prestige three year old race.”

David Hayes will also head north with Fast ‘N’ Rocking, who has been posted a $5 chance in a rematch with Prince Harada in the Golden Rose  in two weeks.

“It’s locked in Hayes,” Hayes said.

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.