Million Dollar Champ Primed For Egg Return

MILLION Dollar Chase champ Handsome Prince makes his eagerly awaited return to racing at Wentworth Park this Saturday night in the heats of the Group 1 Ladbokes Golden Easter Egg (520m).

Unbeaten in three Wentworth Park starts en route to his Million Dollar Chase triumph last October, Handsome Prince will exit box two in heat four, his first start since dislocating a toe in a heat of the Melbourne Cup last November.

And while trainer Peter Lagogiane says the dog is fit enough to make his presence felt in the first round of the showpiece series, he also qualifies that by adding the Prince is “not match fit”.

“I believe he has done the work to prepare him first-up for this heat,” he said.

“But like footballers, he needs two matches to bring him on for the grand final.

“That's what the heat and hopefully the semis are all about for him.”

Lagogiane admitted a slight setback with a back muscle in Handsome Prince's return campaign had put the star galloper back.

Ten heats of the Easter Egg will be run on Saturday night with the placegetters and two fastest fourths progressing through to the semis.

Lagogiane says the heats are the strongest he has seen for years.

“I've been going through the fields and they are the hottest Egg fields for years,” he said. “The quality has not let anyone down.”

Two years ago, the last time the race was staged, Lagogiane guided Federal Lilly to second in the Easter feature behind Zipping Bailey.

Handsome Prince is just one of four heat runners for the Lagogiane.

“We've also got Handsome Prince's litter brother Ava Wine but he cannot draw a box – he's got five Saturday,” he said.

“Vicki's Queen is a mighty little bitch but she will need luck.

“And Barcia Blue Boy is suited in box two.

“But, there is more speed in that race than Pablo Escobar ever saw in his lifetime.”

Barcia Blue Boy's most recent appearance was in the Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup where he scored in a slashing 25.93.”