APQEII Cup News: Universal Prince fit and ready for Hong Kong

4 April 2002

Leading Sydney trainer Bede Murray says his champion, Universal Prince, is "all systems go" for his attempt on Hong Kong's AP QE II Cup at Sha Tin on April 21.

At his most recent start on March 23, Universal Prince was narrowly beaten into second place behind Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double winner Ethereal in the Group 1, $A1 million (about HK$4m) The BMW over 2400 metres at Rosehill.

"The horse pulled up well from that race and has done well since. Everything's in order for Hong Kong. We're really looking forward to it," said Murray. His charge is booked to fly out for Hong Kong next Monday, April 8.

After Hong Kong, Murray intends to continue the four-year-old's campaign through to Singapore where he will contest the Singapore Gold Cup on May 13.

The trainer is hopeful success in Asia will further erase the disappointment of his horses finishing second in the two major races held at the March 23 meeting in Sydney. "It was still a great day - it just could have been better," he said.

Not only was Universal Prince beaten in a photo finish to The BMW, but also the Murray-trained filly Victory Vein was beaten a long head in the Golden Slipper, which - with prize money of $A 2.5 million - is the world's richest race for two-year-olds. Victory Vein went on to win the Group one Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick on Monday (April 1).

Universal Prince, a four-year-old by Scenic, has won seven of his 25 starts and $A2.7 million in stakes. The winner of the Australian Derby, he was rated the top three-year-old distance horse in Australia for the 2000-2001 season.

He goes to Hong Kong in peak form. He won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at the AP QE II Cup distance of 2000m on March 9 at only his second run this campaign. This was followed by his 2400m second to Ethereal.

The horse has a powerful finishing burst and is best suited on big, spacious tracks. "By all reports, Sha Tin should be the perfect track for him," Murray said.