Celtic Prince one to follow

A bright middle distance future has been forecast for Celtic Prince following his commanding victory at Canterbury yesterday. It was the third career win for the four-year-old son of O’Reilly, who is trained by Bjorn Baker.

“He was an unlucky seventh in the Queensland Derby and he was travelling, there is no doubt he needs ground,” he said. “It is good to see him winning a city race because he is definitely up to his level, I think he can be a progressive stayer. He is a horse I bought at the Ready To Run sale in New Zealand and is a full-brother to Said Com. I liked him for a long time, he didn’t quite live up to that early but he is starting to hopefully deliver.”

Passed in as a yearling at Karaka, Celtic Prince is out of the Centaine mare Centa Belt who is a half-sister to the Gr 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Master Belt and the stakes winners Buckle Your Belt and Minnie Belt. The dam’s third foal is Said Com, a $290,000 Karaka purchase out of WS’s 2010 Premier draft, who has won four races and finished runner-up in the Gr 1 Royal Randwick Guineas.