3 minute read
There was some uncertainty in the eyes of trainer James Ponsonby about Tudor Prince at the start of his preparation, but one run in and it’s all systems go heading into the Walsh’s Hotel Queanbeyan Cup Prelude.
If Tudor Prince can perform up to expectations on Monday he will take his place in the $45,000 Queanbeyan Cup (2000m) on Sunday, November 21.
The six-year-old is open to further improvement as his first-up run for James Ponsonby was after more than a year off racing.
The gelding ran second with 61.5 kilograms over 2000 metres as a $21 chance and will have to carry an extra one and a half kilograms on Monday.
With the benefit of a race start over the same distance and track, Ponsonby feels Tudor Prince can offer even a bit more.
The trainer had his doubts about Tudor Prince standing up to a preparation after a history with leg problems.
"I was reluctant to take him on at first. He also had a throat operation and his main owner Allan Skinner was persuasive that I give him a try and his first-up run was very good," he said.
"I hope for the owners that he stands up to racing as they have been very patient and Allan has shown a lot of faith in the horse.
"The plan is to race him Sunday then go to the Queanbeyan Cup where he will drop a lot in weight."
Jockey Winona Costin will again ride Tudor Prince who was also aboard when he finished just under one length behind Mahsinger.
Ponsonby said it had been a long process to get Tudor Prince – a four times winner from 20 starts – back to the track.
His training property at The Oaks allowed him to ride the galloper trackwork on a surface suited to horses with a history of leg problems.
"It has been a lot of slow work on a surface that is fairly deep and he has stood up to it," Ponsonby said.
Tudor Prince previously raced in Sydney in September of 2020 and won a month earlier at Moruya over 1650 metres.
With the benefit of one race start and a trial prior, Tudor Prince should be nearing peak fitness and ready to show he can figure in a Queanbeyan Cup.
Ponsonby has a background in harness racing and rides a large number of his own thoroughbreds track work which gives him the advantage of being a very much hands on trainer.
"It does help a lot because you get a good feel for how the horses are going," he suggested.
Veteran Charlie Royale is weighted up to his best with 61.5 kilograms and he is yet to miss a top three finish in four starts at Queanbeyan.
The ten-year-old is one of the oldest horses racing on the country circuit and will be lining up for his 102nd start.
The winner of more than $300,000 commenced his racing career in 2014 and has found a home for life with his owner and trainer Matthew Stephens.
Hello China is a last start winner on a heavy track at Wagga and surprisingly hasn't won in seven starts at his home track of Queanbeyan.
The soft track conditions and race distance are in favour of the well performed galloper who is prepared by Mick Smith who will also have Street Cred in the feature race.
Last year, the prelude was taken out by Alpine King which went onto run fifth in the Cup behind Havaduel.
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary doesn't have the quantity of runners that he would normally at his home track, but what he does have is two solid hopes in last start winners Joey Jaws and Murkowski.
Joey Jaws broke through for his first win at his initial start for Cleary at Queanbeyan on October 21, while Murkowski won his maiden by three lengths the same day.
Queanbeyan's Cup meeting later this month will offer $275,000 prize money with the other feature races being the Thunderbolt and Golden Nugget which each carry prize money of $35,000.
