Prince on track despite bad loss

DARREN Weir’s initial disappointment at Prince of Penzance’s second last placing in Saturday’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield has eased, with the trainer confident the horse is on track for another Melbourne Cup tilt.

Prince of Penzance missed the start before finishing 11th, eight lengths in arrears of stablemate Black Heart Bart.

Last year’s $101 Melbourne Cup winner remained at his pre-Memsie odds of $31 chance to go back-to-back despite what at first appeared a poor run.

“I think if Harry (Coffey) had his time again he wouldn’t have pushed forward after missing the start, he’d have just flopped out the back instead and run on late,’’ Weir said.

“I’m pretty happy with where he’s at. They all went down the beach this morning and they’ve all pulled up great,’’ he said of Memsie runners Black Heart Bart, Mahuta, Palentino and Prince of Penzance.

Weir has so many major spring contenders he has given up trying to avoid clashes of stablemates in lead-up races.

Signoff and possibly Tosen Stardom will run in Saturday’s Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley and the trainer could present a swarm of Cups horses in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington the following Saturday.

Tosen Stardom could wait a week and run in the Makybe, which is also likely to be the next race for Prince of Penzance. Black Heart Bart and Palentino are also earmarked for the race.