STRATEGIC PRINCE IS ENTERED IN THE 2000 GUINEAS
Cole Hoping for good-ground Guineas for Strategic Prince
Article taken from the Racing Post
By Rodney Masters and David Milnes
Strategic Prince (DANSILI) has ‘one
heck of a turn of foot,’ according to trainer Paul Cole – but he
will need good ground in the 2000 Guineas if he is to produce
it.
Cole considers the going at Newmarket was softer than ideal when
Strategic Prince finished third to Teofilo and Holy Roman Emperor
in the most reliable trail for the Guineas, the Dewhurst
Stakes.
He said, ‘Strategic Prince was the last horse off the bridle in
the Dewhurst but, as we’d seen in his work at home, when
there is give in the ground he doesn’t quite produce the same
terrific speed.’
When he lines up for the 2000 Guineas on May 5 as one of
Britain’s hottest hopes to thwart a hat-trick for Ireland in the
Stan James- sponsored race, Cole is hoping for good ground at
least.
He said: ‘Of it’s softer than that, we’ll need to cross that
bridge at the time. He’s also in the French 2000 Guineas, but I
doubt that he’ll go there.’
Although slightly smaller than Generous, who was fourth for the
trainer in the Guineas before winning the 1991 Derby, Cole sees in
his latest Classic hope certain physical similarities. On breeding,
he should stay a mile and a half, but the trainer has a slight
lingering doubt.
‘He possesses such brilliant speed –he’s a colt with one heck of
a turn of foot – and horses like that don’t usually stay the Derby
trip,’ he said. ‘It would be the only blot, because otherwise I
would have no doubts about him in the Derby.’
Strategic Prince grew little over the winter but put on a fair
amount of weight, which is now being edged off him.
‘I’m delighted with his progress,’ added Cole. ‘Like a lot of
good horses, he has character about him. If you stick to your
routine, he’ll stick to his. He’s as tough as they come, and he is
blessed with good, solid legs.’
Head groom Tony Bradley, who rides out Strategic Prince every
day and occasionally rode out Generous, though not in work
sessions, was unwilling to compare the pair, but clearly thinks the
world of the stable’s latest potential star. ‘He’s very, very good
and it is a joy to ride him,’ he said.
Cole confirmed that Eddie Ahern would ride in the Guineas, for
which there were 86 entries were published yesterday, headed by hot
favourite Teofilo.
Date: 22 March 2007