Waterhouse looks to NZ-bred stayer for Melbourne Cup dream
19th Apr 2010
Herculian Prince (NZ)
Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse, has labeled Saturday’s winner of the Listed Japan Racing Plate (2000m) at Randwick, Herculian Prince (NZ) (Yamanin Vital), as her 2010 Melbourne Cup horse.
“This is my Melbourne Cup horse,” said an elated Waterhouse following the NZ-bred gallopers dominant front running win.
“I haven’t won a Melbourne Cup yet but I think I have found the horse to do it with.”
Herculian Prince (NZ) took his record to seven wins from 11 starts, leading all the way to score by 1¼ lengths from imported stayer Above Average, with fellow NZ-bred galloper Booming (NZ) getting home well for third a long neck away.
I haven’t won a Melbourne Cup yet but I think I have found the horse to do it with
Herculian Prince (NZ), a four-year-old son of Yamanin Vital, was purchased by Waterhouse’s husband, Robbie as a three-win galloper from the stable of Karyn McQuade in New Zealand.
"I made an executive decision a few months ago to fill our stable with good, tough stayers," Gai Waterhouse said.
"So Rob went looking for me. He went through the form in New Zealand and found Herculian Prince."
Interestingly, Robbie Waterhouse had also secured last weekend’s Gr.1 AJC Derby runner-up Descarado (NZ) in the same manner as Herculian Prince (NZ) - buying the horse as a tried gallloper with form in New Zealand.
Herculian Prince (NZ) was bred by Amber Thoroughbreds Ltd and is a son of the ill-fated Sir Tristram sire, Yamanin Vital, and is one of five living foals from the Woodman mare Sea Island.
This is the family of the Gr.1 winners Racing to Win, Hula Chief and Love Dance.
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