Coolmore Sales Graduate Prague Bolts Up In Joel Stakes

The connections of Prague (4c Galileo – Princess Noor, by Holy Roman Emperor) enjoyed a day to remember when their 10,000 guineas Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training purchase ran out an impressive winner of the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket.

Bought by Amedeo Dal Pos from Coolmore last October, the son of Galileo made an excellent start for Dylan Cunha when landing a Sandown maiden by four lengths in June and was last seen finishing second in a Group 3. Reunited with Danny Tudhope on Friday, he was held up in the early stages and switched right before the four furlong marker. Quickening to join the leader, he ran on to lead approaching the final furlong and was ridden out to win by three lengths and three quarters. Multiple Stakes winner and joint-favourite Poker Face (Fastnet Rock) claimed runner-up honours.

“This is unbelievable,” said the delighted winning owner Dal Pos, who works as Cunha’s head lad. “I never dreamed I would be winning a Group 2 when we bought him. Me and my friend picked him up unraced and he's still a big baby, but he's improving.”

“We may have to think about supplementing Prague for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day,” Cunha added. “We knew he would be competitive after he worked nicely on the watered gallop next to the track the other day.”

Bookmakers subsequently shortened Prague into 7/1 for the Ascot Group 1. The Barronstown Stud-bred colt provides an important update for his half-sister by Camelot, who is catalogued for Tattersalls Book 1.

Read more about the top-class racehorses sold by Coolmore here.