Why Handsome Prince Can Be King At Stud

THE scene was Bulli in late July for a 400m 4th-5th grade which would hardly have enthused the punting public and greyhound racing devotees.

Except for the fact the race contained Handsome Prince the superstar son of Sh Avatar and See Blue's Girl as the raging hot favourite.

“The Prince” made the race a formality scoring in 22.13 by five lengths. Such were the conditions many on-course said in normal circumstances the run would have been a near record.

And yes it was a far cry from his unforgettable victory last October when he scorched away with the Million Dollar Chase for owner Shakeel Latimer and trainer Peter Lagogiane.

SEE HANDSOME PRINCE'S STUD PROFILE

But what was so unexpected was the fact it would be his very last race, the brilliant galloper injured and instantly retired to stud.

Handsome Prince goes to stud after an injury-plagued career since the MDC victory with 28 starts for 11 wins and eight placings, earning $1.036 million – the sixth highest of all time.

Lagogiane did everything he could to bring Handsome Prince back to his best but finally admitted defeat in July and decided broodbitch owners were being denied their opportunity to use him.

Like all successful stud dogs, Handsome Prince with some remarkable times beside his name. As a young pup he ran a near record 29.38 at Launceston's 515m distance.

In the lead up to last year's Melbourne Cup at Sandown he trialled in 29.13 at his first look at the track – his second split in the discussion with Fernando Bale.

In a Brisbane campaign at Albion Park a few months back a post-to-post trial on race night was one of the quickest ever and considered Sennachie like.

Make no mistake … this regally bred sprinter could run remarkable times.

There is no doubt Handsome Prince was bred to become a great race dog and eventually stud dog.

By the US racetrack great SH Avatar, his dam See Blue's Girl (Magic Sprite-See Blue) was a finalist in the Group 1 Hobart 1000.

Her litter brother Top Prospector won the G1 NZ Spion Rose.

See Blue's Girl and Top Prospector are bred on the very same Magic Sprite/Surf Lorian/Placard cross as Queensland's champion bitch Cyndie's Magic.

And, just like Cyndie's Magic, this is a direct damline to Group 1 stars.

Wine Glass, fourth dam of Handsome Prince, raced to victory in the G1 Eukanuba Cup, placings in the Premiers Cup and Peter Mosman, as well as final berths in the Melbourne Cup, National Sprint, Coca-Cola Cup and Bob Payne Winter Stake.

She really was something else.

So, what bitches will suit Handsome Prince in his “new day job”?

His sire, SH Avatar, is also sire of King Cratos (15 wins, $169,000, G1 Paws of Thunder, 2nd G1 Temlee), Incapacitated (22 wins, $145,000, G2 Rich Derby, multiply Group winner and finalist), Matt Machine (17 wins, $88,000, finalist G1 Melb Cup, G1 Aust Cup, G1 Silver Chief, G2 Wbool Cup) and the sensational littermates Suffragette (13 wins, $193,000, G2 Launching Pad), Ebby Ripper (31 wins, $313,000, multiple Group performer), Ebby Chance (17 wins, $58,000) and Utah Miss (19 wins, $53,000) as well as Midnight Hero (23 wins, $93,000), Daithy Allen (10 wins, $61,000, 3rd G1 Nat Futurity), Robson (16 wins, $104,000, G1 NZ Waterloo Cup, 3rd G1 Auck Cup), Midnight Hero (23 wins, $93,000) etc.

But, Handsome Prince‘s very powerful damline will have an even greater impact on his chances at stud.

Being by an outcross stud dog, it is imperative Handsome Prince be mated with huge in-breeding or line-breeding to those dominant ancestors in his dam. Fernando Bale and Aussie Infrared are proof of this.

Magic Sprite will be dominant in matings to Handsome Prince.

He has done extremely well when crossed with Barcia Bale and Zambora Brockie, and of course Fernando Bale.

If Handsome Prince only ever mated bitches by this trio, it would be the perfect introduction to his stud career.

The Magic Sprite/Barcia Bale connection is found in Qld GOTY Fast Times. In reverse it has produced G1 winner Start A Riot.

The Magic Sprite/Brockie link is found in staying great Houdini Boy.

Cyndie's Magic (bred identically to Handsome Prince‘s dam) has her first litter, by Fernando Bale, mostly Group class.

G1 star Hasten Slowly is by Fernando Bale from a daughter of Talks Cheap who just happens to be a brother to Magic Sprite's dam Glamorous.

Surf Lorian, sire of Handsome Prince‘s second dam, has done spectacularly well when linking with Knocka Norris. G1 star and sire success Don't Knocka Him is bred this way.

So, it then makes sense to bring in crosses of Knocka Norris and his litter sister Elite Oriental to mate with Handsome Prince.

And, Magic Sprite has sired Group class gallopers out of daughters of Knocka Norris.

Bitches by Dyna Double One and Unlawful Entry could very well be ideal mates for Handsome Prince. Both will bring in a SON cross of Spiral Nikita. Magic Sprite has done well when his offspring carry a double of this Irish stud great.

Magic Sprite is bred on a reverse cross to Oaks Road who can be picked up for Handsome Prince, via his sire son Worm Burner.

This is also a damline that has done exceptionally well when linked to Bekim Bale.

See Blue, second dam of Handsome Prince, has much in common with leading sire Fabregas. See Blue's Girl went to Fabregas to produce a handy litter, but tossing Fabregas bitches at Handsome Prince during his stud career will be a much better way to introduce this cross.

The Glass Placard (3rd dam of Handsome Prince) influence has done exceptionally well when linked to Go Wild Teddy. Rose Chalice, a full sister to See Blue but from an earlier litter, was mated to Go Wild Teddy himself to produce the classy Raging Obsession and Glamour Row.

Go Wild Teddy is everywhere in pedigrees via his sons Barcia Bale and Dyna Lachlan.

Handsome Prince can do with as much Go Wild Teddy in his mates as possible.

Bitches with Dyna Lachlan in their pedigree will be especially suited.

This would bring in a reinforcement of the famed US female family via Buzz Off, found in Dyna Lachlan's damline and also through Molotov in SH Avatar.

The entire make-up of Handsome Prince‘s pedigree shows great pace.

Certainly his damline is inclined that way. Which means he obviously should also be mated to bitches from strength lines, those of My Bro Fabio, Bekim Bale etc.

“The Prince” of the MDC certainly has a bright future when it comes to his worth at stud.