Prince Cheri (Fr) has been retired to Royston Stud in Innisplain where he will stand for an introductory service fee of $6,600 (inc gst).

The Queensland newcomer was blessed with early speed and great stamina when racing forward and a powerful, explosive finish when ridden cold.  He began racing in France winning on debut at Clairefontaine for trainer Mikel Delzangles and then running a close second in the LR Prix Association Graine D’Avenir.

Transferred to David Vandyke at Warwick Farm, he won with ease first-up at Canterbury after being trapped three wide without cover.  After a spell, he stormed home to just miss at Randwick over 1600m and then travelled more forward to win at Rosehill over 1500m.

Prince Cheri reached a career-high in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) after facing the breeze again at Rosehill.  Then in the lead-up to the 2013 Caulfield Cup, he started favourite in the G1 Metropolitan Hcp but became trapped behind a wall of horses losing all momentum.

After cooling down, Vandyke discovered an impinged nerve and the five year-old was never quite able to show the same quality and class.  He was last seen finishing midfield in the LR Ballarat Cup in November.

“I was confident he would win the Metropolitan,” Vandyke said.  “He was top class, however, back issues prevented him from meeting his full potential.”

Prince Cheri’s sire Lando won the German Derby and Japan Cup and was German Horse of the Year in 1994 and again in 1995.  His dam Princess Cheri (Mondrian) is a half-sister to fellow German Horse of the Year Prince Flori (Lando).

PRINCE CHERI