David Vandyke-trained Prince Cheri has only had one start in Australia but the leading trainer believes the lightly-raced stayer has the potential to develop into a 2013 Spring Racing Carnival contender.

Prince Cheri had two starts in France before being imported to Australia and impressed on his debut for his new stable with a fast-finishing win in the Lynch Contractors Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury in March.

The imported stayer is set to return to the races in a Benchmark 85 event over a mile at Randwick next Saturday and Vandyke is hopeful that could be the start of a successful spring campaign.

“He is a very exciting horse, his race at Canterbury was exceptional,” Vandyke said on Racing Ahead.

“He settled back in the field and found the line well.

“I imagine that he is going to be a serious stayer who will possibly measure up in the spring.”

While Vandyke is confident that Prince Cheri can win a nice race in the upcoming season, he is still unsure what the ideal distance is for the son of Lando after he showed surprise acceleration in his debut win in Australia.

“He is a very relaxed horse, he I like that on the track and in his races,” Vandyke said.

“It is hard to know how far he is going to get because he is so relaxed.

“He gives me every indication that he will get better the longer the distances get but his win at Canterbury over 1550 was quiet electric.

“I wanted to start him over no less than a mile this prep.”

Vandyke has not indicated which races he plans to target with Prince Cheri but the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm, the Group 2 Hill Stakes at Randwick (2000m) and the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) could be on the agenda.

Prince Cheri will compete in a trial over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick on Friday morning.