Prairie Star pleases O'Brien

Former French stayer Prairie Star pleased Danny O’Brien in a track gallop yesterday at Caulfield, but he remains an unlikely Caulfield Cup runner.

Trainer Danny O’Brien said Prairie Star continued to thrive, but the horse was “95 per cent likely” to run in the David Jones Cup, the old Coongy Handicap, at Caulfield next Saturday.

“We are very happy with him. He worked a solid mile (1600m) on the course proper with a three-year-old filly of ours and the work was very good,” O’Brien said.

“Ben Melham, who rode him, was happy with how he felt and at this stage we are leaning towards running him in the Coongy.

“It’s not locked away, but it’s 95 per cent.”

While quarantine ended yesterday Prairie Star will remain at the Werribee quarantine facility for the rest of the spring.

O’Brien said Prairie Star’s run next Saturday will determine what direction he will take for the rest of the spring carnival.

“I’ve still got the option of running him on Derby Day and then backing up into a Melbourne Cup, but that will be dictated by how he runs next Saturday.”

Story by Adrian Dunn, to view full Racing Network story click here