A Princely Performance
Sun 01 Oct 2023
WINNER 93 OF 2023: PRINCE OF ZENDA, trained by Hugo Palmer and ridden by Hayley Turner: 'The Commonhall Street Social Novice Stakes' over 7.5f at Chester.
He has been running consistenlty - 2nd or 3rd in 4 of his 5 starts and today, after128 days off, he returned to his local track. The conditions changed from good to soft at race 1 to heavy at the time of his race, as owners took shelter under the winners podium ahead of the race!
They broke pretty evenly and he was soon at the front taking them along, with ears pricked. Shaken up coming around the home bend, he soon went 2 lengths clear from the favourite and then asserted in the finishing straight, going 7 lengths clear approaching the final furlong and without any urging from Hayley, went further clear inside the final furlong, winning easily by 12 lengths.
"Prince Of Zenda, by a wide margin, wins!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Chester/30-September-2023/1435
Timeform rated it as a career best 99 performance, saying: "After 4 months off, probably found some improvement as he got off the mark, coping very well with conditions; made all, travelled well, went clear over 1f out, unchallenged.”
See the official photographs, here: https://www.onlinepictureproof.com/officialphotographersonline/albums/chester/865254/browse/
Syndicate manager Tom says: "Well that was him showing his real talent and I have to say a huge well done to his owners, who have been patient with him. Fantastic that he won at his local track and that many of his syndicate were there to celebrate. He handled the ground really well and we'll keep rolling with him this year. Congratulations to Hugo and his team on their double on the card.
So one more winner, to reach our 1,500th and Sunday provides top table racing, as we have SHOULDVEBEENARING competing in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp and BRAVE EMPEROR taking in another Group 3 in Germany. Fingers crossed!"