Prise De Fer hunting for elite level Group 1 win

Prise De Fer is zero for 13 in Group 1 races but a last-start Group 3 win has given trainer Mark Walker reason for optimism ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

While the seven-year-old gelding has yet to win at racing’s elite level, he has twice finished second and three times third, all under weight-forage conditions which he again encounters on Saturday.

Prise De Fer will race on a sevenday backup for just the third time in his career, with his previous two quick turnarounds resulting in a second placing in last year’s Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) and a sixth place in this year’s Group 1 Classic (2040m) at Hastings.

Walker felt the quick backup was an advantage for Prise De Fer off his authoritative win in last Saturday’s Group 3 Eagle Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.

“He’s come through it really well. He was home in his paddock on Saturday night and he was bright as a button on Sunday morning,” Walker said. “It was really good to see him get another win on board. His run at Tauranga leading in to that was very good as well.”

A winner of 10 of his 38 starts for career earnings of more than $650,000, Prise De Fer has yet to win on a heavy track, which is Walker’s biggest concern leading into Trentham, which was rated a heavy8 yesterday.

TAB bookmakers opened Prise De Fer as a $3.30 second favourite behind Aegon at $1.85.

Walker’s other runner at Trentham is Believe In Magic, who tackles the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Believe In Magic burst into contention for feature two-year-old races with a last-start win at Woodville in her second start at the beginning of November.

“She worked nicely on Tuesday on the grass which was rain-affected. She’s fit and well and got through the ground well,” Walker said.

“She’s not very big but she’s a real pocket-rocket. She’ll run well.”

Safely through Saturday’s race, Walker will give Believe In Magic a look at Pukekohe on January 9, ahead of a tilt at the $1 million Karaka Million (1200m) on January 21.

Walker will seek stakes success at Pukekohe even sooner with the trio of Lord Cosmos, Skew Wiff and Kabugee tackling Saturday’s Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).

Walker was pleased with all three going into the race but was anxious for good track conditions, with the course rated a slow6 yesterday.