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.
“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.
