Foreign Prince might not be the best horse in David Payne’s stable but he is one of his favourites.
The six-year-old begins his latest campaign over 1500 metres at Rosehill on Saturday with the trainer hoping for another lucrative winter.
Last year, Foreign Prince won more than $100,000 from his six mid-year starts which included a third in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m).
Although he likes wet winter tracks, Foreign Prince is no slouch in summer either, earning almost $50,000 in five starts from November to January.
“He’s a lovely old warrior,” Payne said.
“He is a happy horse. He is honest and he’s tough and he loves the wet tracks. He cost $100,000 and has earned $500,000.
“He will follow a similar program to last year. The 1500 metres will be a bit short for him but he has to start somewhere and it’s a $100,000 race on Saturday.”
Apprentice Brock Ryan will take three kilograms off the 61kg Foreign Prince was given as the second-highest rated entry in the benchmark 93 race with Godolphin’s Moher the 62kg topweight among the 20 nominations.
Moher’s recent performances include a second in the Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup and fourth in the Listed Scone Cup.
After breaking his collarbone in a fall in March, Ryan, who is indentured to Gwenda Markwell, returned on Saturday to ride two winners from two rides for his boss at Kembla Grange.
Ryan will also ride the Payne-trained Alpen Rose on Saturday.
The mare is another who likes wet tracks with rain forecast in Sydney on Friday and Saturday.
Payne will also have two-year-old Alik making his debut over 1200m at Rosehill.
“He’s a nice horse but will be better later and when he gets up over a mile,” he said.
“Most of my better two-year-olds like Ace High and The Mighty Fed are in the paddock but we’ll see what he can do.”
