Prague pencilled in for Criterion comeback
The son of Galileo has been a real hit for the Newmarket-based South African since his 10,000 guineas transfer from Ballydoyle in October 2023 and after being ruled-out of Group One action at Newbury with a high temperature, Cunha deciding against a mooted run at Epsom this weekend in preference of a trip to the Knavesmire for a race switched north from Newmarket.
Cunha said: 'He's good and he only missed three days work basically, but I think the timing of it was a blessing in disguise and he looks better than ever now.
'He will probably go for the Group Three Criterion at York on June 28, that will be his starter.
'We looked at the Diomed at Epsom, but it was just too soon. He missed those three days and then we obviously brought him back slowly for a week and there is no point rushing him as he's too good a horse.
'To me he has improved loads since and he has just turned a corner. Maybe he wasn't ready for it (Newbury) and everything happens for a reason, so I'm quite excited to get him up to York.'
Prague's finest hour came in Newmarket's Joel Stakes last September with that Group Two event on the Rowley Mile the five-year-old's long-term aim once again, with Cunha also having no regrets about forgoing a trip to Royal Ascot for a stellar Queen Anne Stakes later this month.
Prague added: 'After York he will probably go to back to Haydock for the Superior Mile he was second in last year and then for the Joel Stakes he won, that is the plan at the moment.
'I think going to Ascot would have been mad and barring Frankel's renewal, I think this is the best Queen Anne I've seen, it looks a proper race. It will be a good spectacle and I would rather be watching with a glass of champagne in my hands than having a runner that's an outsider.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien claims amazing eleventh Derby victory as 50-1 shot finishes second
Lambourn, one of the few horses in the field to have already won at a mile and a half, led from start to finish in £1.5 million race at Epsom on Saturday The amazing Aidan O'Brien clinched his 11th victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday. The master trainer has dominated the Derby Festival, winning the Coronation Cup and Oaks on Friday, and saddled three colts in the £1.5 million Classic. The victories of Jan Brueghel and Minnie Hauk 24 hours earlier were their trainer's tenth and 11th wins in the respective races. Stable jockey Ryan Moore partnered those two winners and chose favourite Delacroix in the Derby with Wayne Lordan on Lambourn and Colin Keane on The Lion In Winter. But coming down the hill to Tattenham Corner it was evident that Moore had his work cut out on Delacroix who had just two behind him. Up front Lordan was determined to make full use of Lambourn's stamina, which he confirmed when winning the Chester Vase over the Derby trip. And once his jockey kicked for home in the straight, it was clear he wasn't going to be caught. Lambourn stretched away to record a three and three quarter length triumph from 50-1 outsider Lazy Griff, running for 150 members of the Middleham Park Racing syndicate, with Tennessee Stud, trained by Aidan O'Brien's son Joseph third. Lambourn, returned at odds of 13-2, delivered the Ballydoyle maestro's 32nd success in Epsom's three Group 1 races. O'Brien said: 'Wayne gave him an incredible ride. He is a great fella, done so much hard work over the years. Everybody knew what he was going to do. Wayne knew he'd stay so he was going to go forward. 'This horse is uncomplicated, genuine and committed. His runs have been very good this year. He was second to Delacroix, then he went and won very impressively at Chester. Ryan loved him in Chester but obviously couldn't be on them all. He is probably an Irish Derby horse and he will get further.' He added: 'Ryan said he got taken out of it early, up the hill I think he got bumped and he was back and he said his chance was over from halfway. Colin said he felt at the top of the hill he wasn't going forward. Wayne was forward and he wasn't going to stop. He got the fractions 100 per cent perfect.' Lordan, stable number two at Ballydoyle, was riding his first Derby winner at the ninth attempt. 'I thought anybody who got to me would have to stay well and that would be tough for them,' he said. 'It's one of the greatest races for any jockey. I work for Aidan, Ballydoyle and Coolmore so I am in a lucky position that I get to ride a horse like this.'
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold
While many expected Richard Hannon's charge to make the running, Moore dropped him right out in last place and he came to beat Ice Max by three-quarters of a length as the 6-4 favourite, with the fast-finishing Docklands in third. 'He's one of those horses who's a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he's a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race,' said Hannon. 'Knowing his owners they'll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we've always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground. 'Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn't have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!' Karl Burke was happy to see the runner-up return to form and said: 'He's run a great race and I'm delighted but he was probably in front 100 yards too soon. 'He is a one-paced horse and he gets the trip but I don't think he overdoes himself once he gets in front and he was ahead a good furlong and a half out. 'It's great to get him back and I think he would have probably preferred it even softer. 'I think the winner just outstayed us in the last 100 yards and he's a good horse. He's a very strong horse and he does need a bit of cover to get into a rhythm. 'Everything went right today baring the leader just didn't lead us another 100 yards and if he had done that I think we might have nicked it.' Meanwhile, all roads lead to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for Docklands after finishing second in the Group One last year. Trainer Harry Eustace said: 'It's frustrating because he's just at that level where everything has to go absolutely right for him, and it just didn't quite. 'He just got in a pocket and he doesn't quicken – he lengthens. The winner and the German horse (Georgraphy) just kept us in a bit longer than Richard (Kingscote) would have wanted, but I can't give any real excuses as they've obviously gone a nice fair gallop and everyone's had a chance. 'He's a legend of a hose for us and that's another good run. He'll definitely go back to Ascot for the Queen Anne as that's always been the plan, but this year it's a much deeper race than last year. 'It's probably the race of the week and he'll go there sort of 20-1, but he loves the track. He could run his absolute guts out and finish fourth.'
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold
Winner of a handicap at the Derby meeting last year, this time he was up in Group Three company, but that still represented a step down in class from his last race in the Lockinge. While many expected Richard Hannon's charge to make the running, Moore dropped him right out in last place and he came to beat Ice Max by three-quarters of a length as the 6-4 favourite, with the fast-finishing Docklands in third. 'He's one of those horses who's a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he's a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race,' said Hannon. 'Knowing his owners they'll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we've always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground. 'Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn't have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!' Karl Burke was happy to see the runner-up return to form and said: 'He's run a great race and I'm delighted but he was probably in front 100 yards too soon. 'He is a one-paced horse and he gets the trip but I don't think he overdoes himself once he gets in front and he was ahead a good furlong and a half out. 'It's great to get him back and I think he would have probably preferred it even softer. 'I think the winner just outstayed us in the last 100 yards and he's a good horse. He's a very strong horse and he does need a bit of cover to get into a rhythm. 'Everything went right today baring the leader just didn't lead us another 100 yards and if he had done that I think we might have nicked it.' Meanwhile, all roads lead to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for Docklands after finishing second in the Group One last year. Trainer Harry Eustace said: 'It's frustrating because he's just at that level where everything has to go absolutely right for him, and it just didn't quite. 'He just got in a pocket and he doesn't quicken – he lengthens. The winner and the German horse (Georgraphy) just kept us in a bit longer than Richard (Kingscote) would have wanted, but I can't give any real excuses as they've obviously gone a nice fair gallop and everyone's had a chance. 'He's a legend of a hose for us and that's another good run. He'll definitely go back to Ascot for the Queen Anne as that's always been the plan, but this year it's a much deeper race than last year. 'It's probably the race of the week and he'll go there sort of 20-1, but he loves the track. He could run his absolute guts out and finish fourth.'
