Adam Durrant has given punters a lead by declaring Mystic Prince his best stable runner in the Listed Boulder Cup (2100m) on Sunday.
Durrant gives Mystic Prince a narrow edge over Son Of Something as he strives to record his third win in the $110,000 feature.
Mystic Prince has rediscovered his zest for racing following a lean patch after his win in the W.A.T.C Derby (2400m) two years ago.
Since transferring to Durrant’s team in June, the Reset gelding has yet to finish outside of the money with three wins and as many placings from his six starts.
Durrant said Mystic Prince’s fighting last start victory over Zarantz at Belmont was the ideal platform for his goldfields assault.
He settled a long way back in the field but on straightening he gathered momentum and finished powerfully to score by a nose.
“I think you have to lean towards Mystic Prince because he is in such great form,” said Durrant on TABradio.
“He is a class horse and we are quick to forget that not many Derby horses have come back to do what he did.
“He had a little time off in no man’s land but he has just come back in good form now and it’s hard to knock him.
”It was a great effort to run down Zarantz the other day who I think is above average.
“He was entitled to run second with the run he had but he chased his guts out.
“He would die for you this horse at the moment and is in such consistent form.
“He is the horse they have to beat on his work and the way he has pulled up.”
Mystic Prince has earned top weight of 59kg. The six-year-old, just shy of half a million dollars in stake earnings, has drawn barrier two for William Pike.
Pike is searching for his first win in the Boulder Cup after previous placings with Ram Jam (2014) and Battle Emblem (2011).
Country Cups specialist Peter Hall will ride Son Of Something on 59kg. They combine from barrier ten in the field of 12.
Hall and Son Of Something ran a brave fourth in last fortnight’s Coolgardie Cup (1760m) after racing wide throughout.
“It’s a sort of track where you can be on pace or just off them and Mystic Prince fits that category perfectly,” said Durrant.
“He bounces and puts himself into a good position where unfortunately Son Of Something is a little one dimensional.
“If you want to get the best out of him especially over a staying journey you have to ride him conservatively.
“Often that doesn’t really suit tracks like Kalgoorlie but in saying that if they turn it up and roll along you never know.
“He certainly has the ability and there is a significant gear change with the bar shoes off.
“I’m not doubting his chances if he can put his best foot forward from an awkward barrier.”
Reverend Lovejoy gave Durrant his first Boulder Cup triumph in 2009 and followed up again in 2011.
Durrant’s father, Geoff, etched his name on the Boulder Cup honour roll after preparing My Thornbird in 2004.
RWWA: Julio Santarelli