Written by Bryan Littlely
It was a high-class field, with high expectations, that lined up for the first at Pakenham Thursday evening, the 1200 metre Iron Jack Australian Lager Mdn Plate with the likes of son of the great mare Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Sir Bailey (Impending) the headline act.
But it was a troublesome long-shot, Merchant Prince (Written Tycoon) for Peter Moody who stole the show pre-race and on the main stage.
Merchant Prince, who is only the second by Written Tycoon to score a win so far this year, the other being the formidable Coolangatta, dislodged rider Blaike McDougall behind the gates and took out a barrier attendant in the process. He was not much better in the early running either, throwing his head around, while Sir Bailey wasn’t in the running and wouldn’t be until a late strong finish to place third.
Volander (Bel Esprit) also well-related as a three-quarter to Group 2 winner Se Sauver (Bel Esprit) and out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Escado (Casino Prince) took up the running with speed, along with River Rebel who is from the first local crop from Haunui Farm’s Ribchester (Ire).
McDougall got Merchant Prince on the job at the 400-metre mark, just as Sir Bailey looked most likely to come into but failed to gain ground moving to the outside, picked up by Water Bomber (Headwater) coming with it off the tail of the field. Merchant Prince caught River Rebel just short of the line, with some encouraging signs from Sir Bailey finishing stronger to take third, ahead of the challenging Water Bomber.
The win by Merchant Prince, a $525,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from the Vinery Stud draft for Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds, brings up trainer Peter Moody’s first win for that partnership.
Merchant Prince as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a colt with very good ability,’’ Moody said. “He’s always shown us a lot of talent. We took him to Caulfield the other day and he really disappointed. He just didn’t apply himself at all,’’ Moody lamented.
“Even with the blinkers on tonight, I have doubts that he’s applying himself,’’ he said. “He thinks that it’s a big game. He hasn’t got his mind on the job at all in the pre-parade, when you saddle him. He’s just got to get his mind wrapped around it. Let’s hope that’s the case because he does possess good talent but no application whatsoever.’’
"He (Merchant Prince) thinks that it’s a big game. He hasn’t got his mind on the job at all in the pre-parade, when you saddle him. He’s just got to get his mind wrapped around it." - Peter Moody
Moody said Merchant Prince, who was paid up for the Blue Diamond S. on Thursday morning, “really plays the colt card heavily’’ and the next step was to work to overcome that.
“We’ve got to try to out-think him like he’s doing to us so I suggest he’ll be doing a fair bit of jumping and over logs, we’ll be mixing it up a bit for him to try to keep his mind occupied so he wants to be a racehorse,’’ Moody said. “Otherwise, ultimately, if he doesn’t apply himself, he’ll learn too many bad habits and that will be the end of his manhood.’’
