Trainer Phillip Stokes takes easier route with Prinzerro

Trainer Phillip Stokes has elected to take the easier route at Caulfield with Prinzerro in a bid to secure a city win before season’s end.

Prinzerro was among nominations for the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on Saturday but will instead contest the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m).

That race carries only $50,000 less in prize money but is restricted to three-year-olds.

Under the weight-for-age conditions of the Bletchingly Stakes, Prinzerro would have carried 58kg, instead in the contest against his own age will carry 2kg less.

Prinzerro has been a cause of frustration for Stokes who has maintained throughout the gelding’s nine start career, that has netted only one win, that he is a better galloper than his form card reads.

He bumped into the smart Scheelite on debut at Sandown on debut in April last year, was placed behind Title Fighter and Scentify at Moonee Valley before finally breaking through with a stylish maiden win at Sandown.

Stokes thought enough of that win to try Prinzerro in Stakes company, finishing last in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) before dropping back to 1200m in the Gothic Stakes when beating just one runner home.

While both those flops, the only two times Prinzerro has been out of the money, were at Caulfield, Stokes is unperturbed with a return to that course on Saturday.

Stokes said Prinzerro was racing well this campaign and just needed a touch of luck to fall his way.

“I think this a bit softer for him than the weight-for-age race and we’d like to get a city win for him before he turns four,” Stokes said.

“He’s a horse that has been racing well, but he has won only the one race, so we’ll take on this softer option.

“He’s been racing well down the straight of late and I don’t think Caulfield will be a problem and he worked up well the other morning.

“He’s not a bad little horse.”

Daniel Stackhouse takes the ride on Saturday and Prinzerro shares equal favouritism with Bossy Nic at $5 in early markets.