Prague up to scratch for Skyline test
Prague will be out to cement his Golden Slipper berth via the Skyline Stakes at Randwick.
The Golden Slipper remains on the radar for deposed favourite Cellsabeel who has recovered from a lameness issue suffered during her shock last-start defeat.
As stablemate Prague prepares to maintain his undefeated record in Saturday’s Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, Cellsabeel is being readied for a possible tilt at the Reisling Stakes (1200m) seven days later.
Annabel Neasham, who runs the Sydney stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, says Cellsabeel is back to full health and appears to have bounced back from her unplaced Silver Slipper run when she pulled up lame.
“She’s super. She is completely back to her normal self and probably heads to the Reisling next weekend,” Neasham said.
“I’m not really sure what it was. She was back to normal by Sunday, Monday. It’s just one of those things, she might have had an off-day which they’re all entitled to do every now and then.”
Prague is yet to have an off-day on the racetrack, winning his debut under lights at Canterbury then upping the ante to post an impressive Group Three Canonbury Stakes victory on February 1.
The youngster has continued to thrive in the stable and Neasham says his work this week is at least on par with what he has previously produced.
“His work has been good leading into this and he certainly has not gone backwards since that last run,” Neasham said.
“If anything I think he’s taken a bit of improvement.”
Prague is early favourite for the Skyline and a $15 Slipper chance.
Saturday’s test will be his toughest with his rivals headed by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Aim, whose only defeat came in the Magic Millions.
His stablemate and first-starter Argenteus has shown ability at the barrier trials, while Tulloch Lodge youngster Postcode and the Gerald Ryan-trained Mission River could be improvers.
“There is certainly some depth to the race but hopefully we’re the one to beat,” Neasham said.
“He looks very progressive but it’s not going to be a walk in the park.”
Supreme Idea has been scratched from the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) for the fillies, leaving a field of nine with Stellar Pauline favourite to break her maiden and book a Golden Slipper berth.