TALENTED Wyong three-year-old Prince Of Sorts is back in the Provincial-Midway Championships hunt – and with a likely new rider.
Trainer Allan Kehoe this morning revealed he had spoken with Newcastle jockey Aaron Bullock at Wyong yesterday about partnering Prince Of Sorts in his next PMC Qualifier after the gelding returned to the winning list at home as provincial trainers cut a swathe through the midweek provincial program.
Kehoe was one of five provincial trainers to win six of the eight races, and was understandably delighted to see his young sprinter take the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).
In all-local finish, Prince Of Sorts started a well-supported $3.10 favorite and, after taking up the running, was strong to the line in defeating Kim Waugh’s Bend The Knee ($6.50) and Kristen Buchanan’s Invasive Dreams ($4).
This was Prince Of Sorts’ third success (and he has been placed four times) from only nine starts, and Kehoe is considering backing him up next Thursday at Newcastle in another PMC Qualifier (1400m) for both provincial and Midway horses.
“He has pulled up great; you wouldn’t know he had a run yesterday,” Kehoe said.
“Apprentice Olivia Chambers did a good job on Prince Of Sorts yesterday, but I spoke with Aaron about riding him wherever I go next, and he is confident he would make the weight.
“There’s nothing against Olivia at all and I will have another ride for her at Newcastle, but you need the senior jockeys on when you are trying to qualify for the Provincial-Midway Final worth big money.”
Kehoe also has the option of running Prince Of Sorts in the Wild Card (1350m) – where all three placegetters qualify for the $1m Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 – at his home track on March 29.
Chambers also rode Prince Of Sorts when he ran seventh to Welcometobarbados in the second Qualifier (1400m) at Newcastle on March 1, and Kehoe said she learnt yesterday from her mistake that day by when she chose to take a sit instead of leading when the gelding was quickly into stride.
TAB.com.au reacted to Prince Of Sorts’ Wyong win by halving his price from $51 to $26 for the Final, where remarkably there are now five joint favorites.
Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer’s Rapt, who won the opening heat at Hawkesbury last month, has been promoted to co-favoritism at $8 with Lord Of Biscay, Matcha Latte, Welcometobarbados and Well Timed.
A $22,000 yearling purchase, Prince Of Sorts was headed to the Inglis Ready2Race sale as an early unraced two-year-old, but was withdrawn.
“He never stopped growing, and is nearly 17 hands,” Kehoe said.
“I’ve always liked him. I thought he was the best horse I had trained until Shaggy came along.”
Prince Of Sorts was Kehoe’s 12th winner this season, and his career 191st.
Along with his victory, the other five provincial winning trainers were:
KRIS LEES (Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1600m) with Oakfield Prince (Aaron Bullock) at $14, and Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1000m with First Person (Tommy Berry) at $$2.80 favorite;
. KIM WAUGH (Maiden Plate, 1000m) with Shambretta (Jay Ford) at $5;
. SARA RYAN (Midway Maiden Handicap, 1300m) with Piperita (Anna Roper) at $1.70 favorite); and
. DAMIEN LANE (CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1200m) with Wealthy Investor (Reece Jones) at $6.50.
Story John Curtis, March 13, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photoso
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