Jackpot Prince laid down the gauntlet to Perth’s best stayers with a paralysing winning burst in the Belmont Classic-LR (2200m) on Saturday.

The Casino Prince gelding came from last in a capacity field to nail Persian Princess (Stryker) by a head in the final 3yo stakes race of the season. WATC Derby-Gr.2 winner Gatting finished another short-head astern in third.

Trainer Geoff Durrant owns Jackpot Prince and prepares him in partnership with Jason Miller. He had put the writing on the wall with a fast-finishing third to Variation in the Aquanita Stakes-LR (2000m) a fortnight ago.

“He can stay all day and the extra 200 metres suited today,” Miller said. “He was that far back I thought he would run a nice fourth or fifth at best. But then he balanced up and really lengthened.

“He looks a decent stayer in the making and could easily develop into a Perth Cup horse.”

Jackpot Prince is the 15th stakes winner by Casino Prince. His dam Transit Of Venus (Galileo) descends from VRC Oaks-Gr.1 winner Diamond Shower and Durrant went back and bought her Blackfriars colt for $22,000 at this year’s Perth Magic Millions.

“It was an excellent win,” stable apprentice Clint Johnston-Porter said on returning to scale. “He hit a flat spot following Gatting approaching the corner so I had to give him a dig in the ribs. But I was confident because I knew he was the best stayer in the race.”

Casino Prince has sired 103 individual winners of 172 races this season and he stands for an $11,000 (inc gst) fee at Vinery.

JACKPOT PRINCE
Casino Prince stayer wins Belmont Classic