Prince of Arabia obliges in midweek feature
PRINCE of Arabia, the 4-5 bet, justified his morning line favouritism by winning the $715,000 Restricted Allowance 11 main event by three-parts of a length at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.
Marking time at the back of the field as City Train, Cruiser and The Diplomat pressed the issue on the lead, Prince of Arabia exploded inside the final 400 metres and jockey Dane Nelson took dead aim between horses like a piston and came away from the long-time leaders on his way to a well timed victory.
Trained by Michael McIntosh, Prince of Arabia, who is also a part owned and bred by McIntosh and Kelvin Jones, ran 1,600 metres in a time of 1:40.2 in the six-horse field for native-bred three-year-olds (NW2) and imported three-year-olds upward maidens.
It was the second win of a long season for the Prince of Arabia from 17 starts and it was achieved from a patient ride by Nelson, who had to track early fractions of 24.3, for the first quarter, 48.0 flat for the half and 1:13.2 for the third quarter before coming to a boil in deep stretch.
City Train, a brave little filly at odds of 7-2 and ridden by female apprentice Georgina Sergeon, tried to go from gate to wire, but had to be contented with second after being steamrolled by the winner in the run for the wire.
Mister Information, neglected in the betting at odds of 16-1, came charging forward under claiming apprentice Robert Halledeen, but could only finish a neck away third, with the 12-1 shot Asantewa, ridden by light weight claiming apprentice Richard Cole, also finishing a close-up fourth to complete the frame.
Prince of Arabia, a three-year-old bay gelding by Alisios out of Sub Zero (French Champagne), was winning for the second time from 19 career starts and pocketed $390,400 as the winner’s share for earnings of $1,666,850 lifetime.
— Hurbun Williams