Prentice proves to be the master
Unheralded two-year-old Prentice scored one of the biggest boilovers in the history of the $200,000 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Ascot, saluting at a whopping $86.40 on tote.
Unplaced from four starts, Prentice was given little chance against the likes of Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Hobart Jones.
But the son of Blackfriars, ridden by Glenn Smith, ran on from sixth on the turn and proved too strong for Dancing Express ($7).
Dancing Express had secured a dream inside run to hit the lead in the late stages but fell a head short of victory.
Hobart Jones, backed from $4.40 to $3.50 favouritism, made a sustained run from well back and was not disgraced when finishing third.
Prentice gave Bunbury trainer Simon Foster his biggest win since moving to WA to train privately for owners Dan and Julie Love.
The Loves paid $48,000 for Prentice at last year’s Perth winter sale.
Foster and the Loves were bitterly disappointed when Big Caroline was scratched from the Sires this morning after suffering a cut to a hoof.
“We had a bit of faith in this horse,” Foster said of Prentice.
“I was pretty confident once he got up in distance he would get there.
“He hasn’t had any luck and he’s his own worst enemy. He over-races a lot.”
By Blackfriars out of a Scenic mare, Prentice was always going to relish the step-up in distance and looks an ideal type for three-year-old classics next season.
Foster said Big Caroline was not risked despite being close to starting in the Group 3 feature.
“She just had a small nick on her off-front,” Foster said.
“She was about 90 per cent but we’ve got a really big opinion of her.
“If she wasn’t 100 per cent she wasn’t coming today.
“I think she’s going to go places.”
