There are just two horses in the Warrnambool stables of Mark O'Donnell and whilst one is ten and the other four, they have something in common - both are talented horses who have been given every chance to succeed due to the patience and horsemanship skills of their trainer.
The older statesman of the pair is the tough gelding Rebellious Lord, the Rebel Raider horse who has taken his happy owners on a great ride winning seven races over six seasons - amassing over $200,000 in stakes.
And the new kid on the block is Prince Sonic - a very exciting galloper who showed both speed and heart when saluting at his Hamilton debut last weekend.
Vetted pre-race having got rather excited by the hype of race day, Prince Sonic did not go into the race with as much in the tank as Mark had hoped - "he used up more energy before the race than he did during it!" he laughed.
Whilst the bay - on the back of his experience recording three impressive jump-out victories - was relaxed upon arrival at the races, he did get a bit agitated when the speakers went on in the stall area.
"He turned himself upside down and inside out!"
And, being "the strongest horse" Mark has come across, it took four people to saddle him up!
Which makes the performance of Prince Sonic - who jumped straight to the lead, digging deep when challenged late - all the more impressive.
And whilst his winning margin was not a huge one, there was plenty up Prince Sonic's sleeve with jockey Rhys McLeod telling connections that "this is a serious horse, you are going to have a lot of fun with him."
Whilst Mark originally planned to give Prince Sonic several days off after his win, the horse had other ideas - licking his bin clean on Saturday night and "charging around his paddock, pig-rooting and having a great time!"
And so he had a little gallop on Tuesday morning, his rider noting that "you would not know he'd had a race."
So it's onwards and upwards for Prince Sonic with a BM59 at Mortlake in three week's time on the agenda followed by a break to make the most of the spring sunshine.
Mark has been excited by Prince Sonic from the first time he worked him - "he showed ability from day dot," he said, though the horse did not give his breaker an easy time.
"He was a bugger to break in," Mark chuckled, "he really wanted to buck - but Sebastian Corboy got him going for me and he has been great around the stables."
Describing Prince Sonic as a "quiet, relaxed horse," Mark said that the promising galloper is "a lovely looking horse" who really catches the eye.
And he is one who can really run, Mark taking him to Terang for a gallop in which his heart rate and length of stride (an impressive 8.1 metres "Phar Lap was 8.2" Mark was happy to note!) were measured.
"The guy who does the heart rate stuff sent me a report afterwards and he wrote on the top 'exciting, exciting, exciting' - he was very keen to hear more about this horse!"
Mark is impressed by Prince Sonic's attitude to his work - "he just loves running," he said, keen to take things slowly but there was certainly some excitement in his voice when he recalled the time he clocked at Terang - the half mile in 44 seconds... "he was sizzling!"
All of this is music to the ears of Quilly Park's Richard Anderson, owner of the Bombora Downs based De Gaulle - sire of Prince Sonic.
For De Gaulle is a horse in which Richard has placed plenty of faith in, buying nice mares for him and supporting him with great enthusiasm - and happy to continue doing so.
"I know De Gaulle is a horse capable of siring a very good horse," he said, delighted with the quality of foals the son of Exceed And Excel produces - such as "a ripping colt" his Gr.2 Stocks Stakes winning Reset mare Avenius foaled just this week.
"He is a great type himself and he is passing on his strength, style and character."
Due to injury De Gaulle did not make it to the track but the son of the dual Gr.1 winning mare Response - also dam of the Gr.1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and the recent Gr.3 Concorde Stakes winner Remarque - showed plenty of potential trialling well against some of the best juveniles of his year.
The track's loss may well end up being the smaller breeder's gain with De Gaulle's superior bloodlines on offer at a value fee, noting that from his small books to date he is proving to be an upgrader - already represented by seven handy winners and four placegetters from just 17 runners.
For further details on De Gaulle, an ideal VOBIS horse who stands at a fee of $5500 (incl gst) contact Richard Anderson on 0412 560 051.
