Archie Alexander is hoping to secure a win in former import Prince Eric’s first Australian campaign when he lines up in a benchmark 84 over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday.
The four-year-old son of Time Test has run third in all three Australian starts and Alexander has rued some misfortune, with unlucky efforts at Ballarat and Moonee Valley at his past two outings.
“I think we’ve been very, very stiff twice. Should have won at Ballarat, no luck, and then the other day we just couldn’t get in. I think most horses probably should have just dropped off, and I actually thought he was going to run last on the bend given the passage he had,” Alexander said.
“To actually run that well and be third again, and I think if you look at the weights, I think he carried about six kilos more than the two in front of him to say he claimed and had less weight. So he’s done a good job.”
“You just hope he can keep on fronting up, but he’s drawn well at Flemington, big track. They’re very similar horses again. I think a lot of them that he raced against are back against him. So hopefully he can get the job done, and for the horse he deserves to get it done.”
Formerly with James Ferguson in England, Prince Eric had won four of seven starts, three over a mile and once over 1810m, but Alexander is happy to keep him at a mile for Saturday, with an option to extend over further in the future.
“I think the other day you can’t say he didn’t win because of the distance. He didn’t win because of the passage. But I think in time he might get over 2000 (metres), but maybe one more at a mile and then up to 2000,” Alexander said.
“He’s out of a fast mare by Dutch Art. Dutch Art was a very good sprinter, so maybe we’re going too deep. But looking into it, there’s a bit of speed in the family so probably another run at a mile, and then we’ll look at maybe getting out to 1800, 2000 (metres).”
A $4.40 second elect, Prince Eric will be ridden by a fourth different jockey in as many starts here with John Allen taking the ride from barrier three, and Alexander is confident the horse is thriving in Australia.
“Two weeks in between runs, he seems fine. The European horse in the first prep, eventually he’ll need a break. We just hope he’s got one or two more in him. But every sign at home looks really good that he’s happy and well.”
