Unpredictable G1 winner set for return

Dual Group 1 winner Prized Icon will carry 60kg in this Saturday’s Carrington Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. The 4-year-old by More Than Ready is yet to win over the 1400m trip, still his most recent run in the Inglis 3YO Guineas over the distance suggests he will be more than competitive.

Placed in 13 of 20 starts to date, 2 of Prized Icon’s 3 victories have come in group 1 company, winning the Champagne Stakes in 2016 before taking out the Victorian Derby months later.

In a somewhat erratic career thus far, Prized Icon has demonstrated a wealth of ability and displayed huge potential as a 2 and 3 year old. It seems however we have seen 2 different Prized Icon’s turn up on race day, most notably the one who ran 5L 5th behind Sacred Elixir in the Group 2 Super Vase, before beating the same horse by almost 3 lengths just 7 days later in the Group 1 Victorian Derby when sent out as a $17 shot.

It wouldn’t be the only bizarre turn around in form in a 7 day period for the Kris Lees galloper, with Prized Icon running 10th of 12 in the 2017 Rosehill Guineas, 17L behind Gingernuts, before stepping out in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes just 7 days later to finish runner up behind Jon Snow.

Certainly not a punters best friend, Prized Icon would again display a dramatic turn around in form in his most recent 2 runs, this time not for the better. The group 1 winner was $3.50 into $2.80, heavily supported in the Inglis Guineas at Scone to come from 8th at the 400 to run 2nd. Crying out for more distance, he opened at $4.80 in the 2200m Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm just 2 weeks later, finishing an eventual 27L behind New Zealander Order Again.

Prized Icon has been placed in 2 from 4 races first up, this weekend coming up against French raider George Patton and the very fancied Lanciato, as well as ex HK galloper Beauty Flame. Ridden by Glyn Schofield, Prized Icon is a current $12 shot fixed with the TAB, with George Patton a $3.40 favourite.