He's a Cracker

Mark Smith - Sunday August 13

Making his Moonee Valley debut, Crackerjack Prince broke through for his first metropolitan win in Saturday’s Maureen Salter Hcp (Bm70) (1600m) in such dominant fashion he will likely see a lot more of the Moonee Ponds circuit.

Crackerjack Prince puts a gap on them (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Declan Bates for Archie Alexander, the 6yo son of Crackerjack King had just two behind him early. Bates set Crackerjack Prince alight at the 800m to trail  Senor Uno, and he was going well enough to come four wide and find the front before the home turn.

Kept up to his work with a couple of backhanders, Crackerjack Prince put a margin of three and a half lengths over his nearest pursuer Seb Song (Sebring), with Scarlet Prince (Casino Prince) a head back in third.

Crackerjack Prince has been difficult to follow since running up a sequence of three consecutive wins twelve months ago.

“He’s a lovely horse and has been part of our team for quite a few years,” Archie Alexander said.

Advertisement

“We have been to Sandown quite a lot, and he had run well without winning, so we thought we would try something new. He could have gone there on Friday, and we opted to wait and run here.

“We were adamant that he wanted some give in the ground, but he came here on a firm three and has flown.  

“It’s great for (owner/breeder), Darren and Liz Dance, good supporters of mine for a while.  

“We will think about what to do now. We have considered him not a summer horse as he tends to jar up.

“It’s been a good day, and we will enjoy it.”

Carrying the colours of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Crackerjack Prince advances his record to five wins, four seconds, and three thirds with earnings of $200,850

The 6yo gelding is the first foal of the unraced Shocking mare Shaky Isles who sold for just $400 in 2018.

A favourite saying for auctioneers is, ‘you would think she didn’t have a relative in the world,’ which could easily apply to Shaky Isles.

Though she was barren at the time of her sale, Shaky Isles is a half-sister to six winners led by the stakes-placed Mi Casa Su Casa (Zabeel). She is the daughter of the class racemare Miss Tessla (Crested Wave), winner of the Group II SAJC Queen of the South Stakes and multiple Group placed.

Shaky Isles’ daughter Tectonic Plate (Supido) finished second in a maiden at Ballina on debut in June.

Shaky Isles was covered by Star Turn last spring.

Wyndholm Park’s Group 1 winning Shamardal stallion Crackerjack King (IRE) continues outperforming his opportunities.

The Henry Dwyer-trained Brung King completed his 3yo season with wins at Sandown and Flemington before finishing unplaced in the $150,000 Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m).

Crackerjack King (IRE)  stands at Wyndholm Park Stud in 2023 at an advertised service fee of $6,600.

Advertisment

Race Result - Maureen Salter (Bm70) 1600m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(3) Time: 1:36.66
1
Crackerjack Prince
- 6g Crackerjack King (IRE) x Shaky Isles (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 60
2
3.5
Seb Song
- 6g Sebring (AUS) x Silken Song (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: J Maskiell 58.5
3
3.7
Scarlet Prince
- 5g Casino Prince (AUS) x Scarletta (AUS) (Distant Music (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Beer Rdr: J Mott 59.5
4
4.2
Okay Cupid
- 4g Tivaci (AUS) x Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
5
4.4
Spanish Snitzel
- 6g Choisir (AUS) x Senyuman (IRE) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: C V Kelly Rdr: Madison Lloyd 57.5
6
5.4
Aspen Colorado
- 6g Sea The Moon (GER) x Aspen Royal (GER) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 59.5
7
5.5
Senor Uno
- 5g Belardo (IRE) x Midnight Senorita (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: W F Pinn 61
8
5.6
Master Of Chant
- 4g Gregorian (IRE) x Arctic Moon (USA) (Raven's Pass (USA))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M Zahra 60
9
5.8
Oceana Blue
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Carleen Hefel 55
More Reading...
Concorde Stakes Success For Headwall
With the first two across the line highlighting their claims for an Everest slot, Matthew Smith’s Headwall (Dream Ahead) came with a well-timed run in the $1m Group 3 ATC Concorde Stakes (1000m) to deny the unlucky Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel).
Barnstorming Performance As Baraqiel Wins G1 Moir Stakes
Off the back of his impressive last start Listed Norman Carlyon Stakes victory at the same track, Snitzel gelding Baraqiel had everyone talking, and rightfully so, as he justified the faith of his trainers, charging late to win the $750,000 Group 1 MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) in the Bennett Racing silks.
G1 Shamus Award - Quintessa Wins Proisir Plate
The early spring has tended to bring the very best out of Quintessa, and that trend continued at Ellerslie on Saturday with a spectacular last-to-first performance at $36 odds in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lightning Strikes at The Valley
It didn't carry Black Type, but the $200,000 MVRC So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley was packed with intrigue and G1 winners with spring aspirations.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
Front Runner Lindermann Wins Chelmsford Stakes
Capitalising on his outstanding second up form, Chris Waller’s Group 1-winning Lonhro gelding Lindermann held on to win the Group 2 ATC Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Alpha Sofie Wins Listed Atlantic Jewel
A decision to transfer talented Capitalist  filly Alpha Sofie from the Queensland stable of Jason Edwards to Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman in Victoria paid immediate dividends at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she charged home to win the $175,000 Listed MRC Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m).