Prince poised to cap comeback in Charlton Cup

Reinswoman Jodi Quinlan believes Phoenix Prince gets his best chance since a long lay-off to return to the Victorian country cup victory lane at Charlton on Sunday.

Phoenix Prince appears right on the cusp of a win and Quinlan says he looks well suited in the Group 3 $35,000 Charlton and District Community Bank Charlton Pacing Cup (2570m).

The Emma Stewart-trained eight-year-old has finished second to stablemates at his past two starts.

He chased home Like A Wildfire in the Terang Cup and Our Millionaire in the Horsham Cup.

And again two stablemates will be among his major rivals at Charlton, with Our Millionaire and Demon Delight – who was third in Horsham – lining up in the race.

A win would add to a highly-impressive country cup record for Phoenix Prince, who took all before him in 2019-20 before injury sidelined him for two years.

He took out the Geelong, Cranbourne and Shepparton features and finished second at Bendigo and third at Stawell.

Quinlan’s only drive on Phoenix Prince in that campaign was in the Cranbourne Cup, but in his comeback preparation she’s had the reins in four of his five runs.

She was first reunited with him second-up at Ballarat, where a second to Major Roll earned him a berth in the AG Hunter Cup.

“His run in Ballarat was super,” Quinlan said.

“He’s got a little better each time, gradually working towards his best.

“He’s done a good job to overcome adversity, with the racing providing a natural progression.”

Quinlan said he was at the point where he was letting down in his races almost as well as he was when on his cup-winning run.

“He’s hitting the line hard.”

She said this racing pattern was suiting Phoenix Prince at the moment, with him not yet at the stage where he could be asked to do too much work during the run.

Quinlan said his win in the 2019 Cranbourne Cup had been a sit and sprint performance, settling near the rear before getting a three-wide trail.

Quinlan would be delighted with a similar run at Charlton, giving the horse a real chance of turning the tables on Our Millionaire.

The cup has attracted a field of nine, with Phoenix Prince to start from barrier nine on the second row.

The 10-race program also features the Group 2 $30,000 North West Ag Services Charlton Trotters Cup (2570m).

The first three in Monday’s Horsham Trotters Cup – Havehorsewilltravel, The Penny Drops and Hatchback - line up in the field of eight.

Havehorsewilltravel will start off the back mark of 30m as he attempts to add to victories in the Cobram, Yarra Valley, Cranbourne and Horsham features.

Sunday will also see the staging of the annual Charlton Cup Punt Off.

The $1000 buy in will see $250 enter a prize pool and entrants bet across races 4-9 with the remaining $750.

The entrant with the highest tally takes home the pool, as well as their winnings.

Harness Racing Victoria’s Cody Winnell and Nikkita Ross won the event last year and donated the money to the Charlton Harness Racing Club.

Updates on the competition will be provided throughout the TrotsVision coverage, which will be hosted by Toby McKinnon.