Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald dares to dream about Arcadia Prince, the full brother to superstar mare Arcadia Queen

For fledgling trainer Amy McDonald and husband, jumps jockey Lee Horner, the chance to buy the full brother to one of Australia’s best racehorses was too good to refuse.

William Pike cruising to victory aboard Arcadia Prince in 2018. Picture: AAP

The chance to buy a full brother to one of Australia’s best racehorses was the last thing trainer Amy McDonald expected when her husband, jumps jockey Lee Horner, hung up the telephone.

Horner reached out to a contact in Perth in 2019 inquiring about a Bob Peters-owned stayer the Ballarat couple identified as a potential jumper.

That overture was knocked back almost immediately but in the very next breath, to the surprise of Horner and McDonald, an opportunity to buy “this one” emerged.

Incredibly the “one” was Arcadia Prince, a gelded Group 3-winning full brother to West Australian superstar mare Arcadia Queen.

“We’re like this is too good to be true’,” McDonald said, recalling her initial thoughts on the offer.

“We went through figures and I spoke to Bob and he said he‘s got plenty of good horses and this one has had a few feet issues … he was prepared to let this one go.

“To him (Peters) he (Arcadia Prince) might be another horse but for us it’s something special.”

Trainer Amy McDonald is thrilled to have a horse the calibre of Arcadia Prince in her stable.

With Arcadia Prince secured and recovering from a heel abscess, sustained after the Ballarat relocation, McDonald watched Arcadia Queen’s spring coronation like her own.

Arcadia Queen cemented her position as one of Australia’s best middle-distance gallopers last year, winning the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes and Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.

Between the Group 1 successes, the $3.9 million-earning daughter of Pierro ran a respectable fifth in the W.S Cox Plate when not suited by the softer conditions.

“She‘s unbelievable, obviously he’s not as talented as she is but he’s better than anything we have as in flat quality,” McDonald said.

Arcadia Prince recorded seven wins and three minor placings from 13 starts before falling out of form and favour late in 2019 with three inconspicuous performances at Ascot.

After 59 weeks in the wilderness, Arcadia Prince will debut for McDonald on Friday night at The Valley in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).

The gelding will be the first black type runner McDonald saddles after five years in the caper.

Jordan Childs is booked to ride in the weight-for-age sprint.

McDonald’s 15-horse team enjoyed breakout success last season, with nine wins and 17 minor placings from 66 starts.

“We’re just battlers trying to make it, giving it a whirl,” McDonald said.

“You don’t get the opportunity to buy a horse like this (Arcadia Prince) under normal circumstances, we’re really lucky in that regard.

“He’s a unique character, a bit of a bare bum, he’ll catch you off guard sometimes and you’ll think you’re really quirky, he certainly looks better than the rest of them (in the stable).”

Originally published as Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald dares to dream about Arcadia Prince, the full brother to superstar mare Arcadia Queen