Swiss Prince (NZ) Adds Sarten to Breakthrough Campaign

Within the space of a single preparation, Swiss Prince (NZ) (El Roca) has gone from a winter maiden at Avondale to be a key Group One contender after taking out the $150,000 Group Two James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Tauranga on Saturday.

Swiss Prince was offered by breeders Westbury Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where owners Rosemary Carter and Brett Kendall bought him for $130,000.

He has now had six starts for two wins, three placings and $124,275 in stakes, and he has the $700,000 Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 15 in his sights.

Swiss Prince has come a long way in the three and a half months since he finished fifth in maiden company at Avondale on debut. He placed in all of his next three starts including the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m), then opened his winning account with a deserved victory in a highly competitive maiden race at Ellerslie on October 18.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh was happy to raise the bar with a shot at the Sarten on Saturday, and Swiss Prince did not let him down.

Jockey Joe Doyle took up a handy position in third along the rail, then stayed close to the inside to lodge his claim in the straight. He surged up on the inside of his stablemate To Cap It All (Capitalist), then pulled ahead of her in the last few strides to score an impressive victory by three-quarters of a length.

“This is great for Brett Kendall and Rosemary Carter, who are massive owners for us and had the quinella,” Marsh said. “Both horses have run great races today. Swiss Prince just keeps getting better and better and his condition is amazing. He won a maiden last start and stepped up again today and delivered again.

“He’s still getting better and I think he can certainly take the next step to the 2000 Guineas. He’ll wander back now, get hosed, go home, and nothing will worry him. He has to get on a plane now and go to a new environment, but he’ll be all over that too. Two weeks between runs is perfect and I’m really looking forward to getting him there.”

Doyle has recorded two wins and two placings from four rides on Swiss Prince.

“He keeps showing us that there’s more there,” Doyle said. “Well done to Stephen and his team. They’ve done a super job with him, although I’d say he doesn’t take a whole pile of looking after.

“He’s a real improver, he’s so honest, he has a great way of going and I think he’s going to eat up a mile in two weeks. I don’t think I’d swap him. I’m really looking forward to the Guineas, and whatever the weather is won’t worry him – he’ll go on any ground.”

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Ms R Carter (Auckland)
Breeding	El Roca – Phoenix
Sale	Lot 892, Karaka 2024 Book 2, $130,000
Breeder	G Harvey
Owner	Mrs R A Carter, B & E Kendall