PRINCE Of Penzance, winner of today’s Sportingbet Best Tote Plus Handicap at Moonee Valley, will be aimed at the Mornington and Launceston Cups. Darren Weir said he planned to raise the bar this campaign for this lightly raced, but promising four-year-old.
“He’s a really nice, progressive sort of horse,” Weir said. “We have come in this preparation aiming at the Mornington Cup and Launceston Cup. We will take small steps towards that and hopefully he can get there.”
Prince Of Penzance, the sole ride for Michelle Payne, swamped his rivals to post an effortless win. Backed from $3.50 to start a $2.90 favorite, Prince Of Penzance cruised to a two and three-quarter length win from Brungebrong, $26 with a nose to Mendivil, $21, third.
Payne said Prince Of Penzance has always showed untapped ability and he is now starting to deliver on that promise. She said the horse was not suited by the slow tempo when he resumed at Flemington a fortnight ago.
“He was a bit fresh with the blinkers on and he did a bit wrong,” Payne said. “Today, it just worked out beautifully and the speed was on. I was a bit far off them going around the first turn, but I didn’t want to stir him up. He settled really well, tracked into the race beautifully and without the blinkers today he really hit the line well.”