Tony Vasil expects a “pretty special” horse to step out at Moonee Valley on Saturday when two-year-old Prince Harada makes his city debut.
Vasil has Caulfield Guineas aspirations for the colt he believes is potentially one of the best he’s trained.
Prince Harada made a good impression winning by 2-3/4 lengths on debut at Ballarat last month and Vasil said he can’t wait to take the son of his former star galloper Haradasun to the races again.
The trainer believes the colt has taken great benefit from the experience of his first trip to the races.
“He seems more focused. He looks in terrific order and I’m just really looking forward to him running on Saturday,” Vasil said.
“I think he’s pretty special.
Prince Harada will be ridden again by Steven Arnold and should the colt race to expectations he will be given a short rest to prepare for the spring.
Vasil said the colt would likely spend time with respected trainer and horseman Peter Morgan, utilising the water walker, before returning to his Caulfield stable to get ready for the Caulfield Guineas.
“I’ll probably just put him up there (at Morgan’s property) for a few weeks because it’s expecting too much to continue right through and think he could stay up all this time and have a horse at his prime for the spring,” Vasil said.
During his training career Vasil has prepared top-class horses including multiple Group One winners Elvstroem and Haradasun.
Elvstroem’s big-race wins included a Caulfield Cup, Victoria Derby and Dubai Duty Free, while Haradasun won a Doncaster as a three-year-old and also won the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot after being transferred to the stable of Aidan O’Brien.
Vasil prepared another two-year-old, The Bowler, to win at the Mornington city meeting on Monday.
