Trainer Tony Vasil is adamant that he is not getting ahead of himself with Prince Harada but admits that the unbeaten colt has the potential to be just as good as his three-time Group 1 winning sire Haradasun.
Prince Harada will step up in class when he contests the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Prince Harada burst into Caulfield Guineas (1600m) contention with two impressive victories at Ballarat and Moonee Valley, which have led to comparisons with his famous father as well as former Tony Vasil-trained champion Elvstroem.
Haradasun won the 2007 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and 2007 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) before going to Europe to win the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1609m) during the 2008 Royal Ascot Meeting, while Elvstroem was victorious at Group 1 level on five occasions.
Prince Harada will step up in class in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield tomorrow and Vasil told RSN that Prince Harada’s achievements thus far need to be kept in perspective when accessing his chances in the race and comparing him to his former champions.
“He won a maiden at Ballarat, he did win it really well but it was a maiden,” Vasil said.
“He went to Moonee Valley against better company but he just about did everything he could possibly do to get himself beaten.
“He overcame it all and won with authority, in a very impressive win.
“They were both terrific horses and their accomplishments are out there while this bloke has had two race starts so to try and say he is as good as the moment would be really sticking your chin out.
“I think potentially he is a very good horse and he excites me as much as his father at the same stage.”
The McNeil Stakes has drawn a very strong field and while Vasil believes that Prince Harada is some chance to extend his unbeaten streak, the veteran trainer is under the expression that Miracles Of Life is the horse to beat.
“There is a little horse in the race called Miracles Of Life that has had four starts for four wins and won a Blue Diamond,” Vasil said.
“There is no doubt that it’s going to be ahead of us in the run and it probably depends on how big a start that we are giving it on straightening.
“This bloke is pretty fresh and I am sure that he will be pulling up ground at the finish and I’d be ecstatic if we got up and won.”
Both Elvstroem and Haradasun contested the McNeil Stakes during their racing career without success – Haradasun finished sixth behind Cahuita in 2003 while Haradasun finished a narrow second behind Miss Finland in the 2006 edition of the race.
