Despite showing promise, Prince Tycoon has been a source of considerable frustration for the training partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
Consequently, Prince Tycoon will be fitted with blinkers for the first time as he competes in the Quayclean Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield this Saturday.
Prince Tycoon commenced his racing career brilliantly at Caulfield in May of last year. This early success propelled the then two-year-old to Queensland for the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast just 13 days later, where he secured a second-place finish.
These initial performances instilled confidence within the stable heading into the spring season. However, Prince Tycoon did not perform as expected, finishing outside the top three in two of his three starts.
After a subsequent spell, Prince Tycoon returned with a commanding on-pace victory at Bendigo. He then raced in town, finishing third at Caulfield Heath over 1200m, followed by a narrow second in his most recent outing, the Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on July 4.
It was after this last-start performance that the stable decided to equip him with blinkers.
“We’re going to add a little bit of headgear to him on Saturday,” Young stated.
“He was in front at Flemington last time and he just floated in and out when that horse (winner, Wise Inlaw) came up inside him.
“His last two gallops in the headgear have been good, so hopefully that will work on Saturday and as he’s got a bit of weight, we’ve gone with a claimer.”
Ryan Houston is set to reduce Prince Tycoon’s weight by 2kg, bringing his handicap to 57.5kg.
Young also mentioned that Prince Tycoon has been a challenge due to his behaviour at the barriers, which led to the gelding spending time under the care of Julien Welsh.
She indicated that this period of ‘education’ had resulted in improved performances this campaign.
“He’s shown plenty, but he’s just been a bit funny in the gates,” Young remarked.
“He’s taken a bit of work. We had to send him to Julien Welsh and then got him back.
“This preparation, he’s been excellent, he’s behaved himself, he’s filled out and he’s doing everything right.
Hopefully the blinkers do the trick.”
Prince Tycoon will be looking to break through at Caulfield this Saturday. You can find the best racing odds at Australian betting sites.