Randwick-based Caesars Palace is the third son of Casino Prince to qualify for the $2million The Big Dance (1600m) at his home track on Tuesday, November 1.
The Anthony Cummings-trained gelding is in the mix following his win in the $75,000 Coonamble Cup (1600m) which was transferred to Dubbo on Wednesday. Given the run of the race by Aaron Bullock, he chimed in at the furlong to score by two lengths from Philipsburg (Per Incanto).
Casino Prince geldings Bandersnatch and Casino Kid are priced at $11 in pre-post markets for The Big Dance and Caesars Palace has been introduced at $26.
“The Coonamble Cup was Plan A but there were lots of options with all the changes we’ve had for race dates and distances,” Cummings said. “The Five Diamonds was another alternative – you’ve got to keep nominating to keep alive as long as you can these days.”
Caesars Palace (5g Casino Prince – Soffraaj by Iffraaj) has earned $350,000 for a large Cummings-managed syndicate after they gave him plenty of time to mature. He won a Goulburn 1600m maiden as an autumn 3yo and has turned the corner this year winning at Rosehill over 1500m and 1800m.
Cummings bred Caesars Palace having also sourced his Vinery-based sire Casino Prince and dam Soffraaj as yearlings at the Magic Millions. His promising 3yo half-brother Kote (Choisir) won for the second time in town this season when taking a Randwick Midway for Cummings last Saturday.
The $150,000 Big Dance Wild Card (1600m) at Randwick this Saturday gives Casino Prince a final opportunity to make it a quartet of qualifiers for the Final on Melbourne Cup Day. His Wyong-based gelding Casino Mondial will be exempt from a ballot if he finishes in the first two.
Meanwhile, Team Hawkes has Bandersnatch entered for the MRC Moonga Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) at Caulfield this Saturday. He was an early qualifier for The Big Dance after winning the Tamworth Cup in April.
Bandersnatch was unplaced in the BRC Stradbroke Hcp (Gr.1, 1400m) at Eagle Farm in June and he resumed with a late rush to finish third in the MRC Testa Rossa Stakes (LR, 1300m) at Sandown last month.
Casino Prince stands at Vinery for $5,500 (inc GST) and that makes him the Hunter Valley’s value-plus sire for owner-breeders. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
