Geoff Durrant declared Jackpot Prince a Perth Cup horse after his promising homebred won the Crown Towers Hcp (2100m) at Ascot.
Racing second-up after an extended spell on Saturday, the Casino Prince gelding appreciated some quick sectionals to swamp his rivals in the final furlong. “I thought he would have won by more with the pace on,” Durrant said. “We’ve got a love-hate relationship with this horse but it’s always good to get a win.
“He’s the only one we forgot to nominate for Westspeed and it’s cost us over $100,000 in bonuses.”
Jackpot Prince (4g Casino Prince – Transit Of Venus by Galileo) improved his own weight during last year’s winter season for Durrant who bred him from a descendant of VRC Oaks Gr.1 winner Diamond Shower.
He won a Narrogin maiden and added a couple a restricted races in town before claiming the Belmont Classic LR (2200m) in July. “We did think about getting him ready for the Perth Cup but he was still maturing and too raw,” Durrant said. “We decided to hold off for a year. Hopefully, he will go through the grades and is there for the next Perth Cup.”
Durrant bought his dam Transit Of Venus from the Greenfields Lodge dispersal in 2014. The mare has a Blackfriars 2yo colt named Drop The Orange and she foaled another colt by the deceased Scenic Lodge champion in September.
Jackpot Prince eased from $3.50 to $6 before Saturday’s win but that didn’t shock punters as much as Casino Prince mare One For Later earlier in the day at Flemington. She won the Dolly’s Dream Hcp (2000m) at $151 for owner-trainer Allan Peterson.
Casino Prince (Flying Spur) has sired 70 individual winners this season for earnings over $2.24 million. The Vinery champion is on track to beat career-best figures of 104 winners set in 2015-16. He fell just one short with 103 winners last season.
