Brent Gillovic opted for a softer option at Ellerslie with Wealth Prince, but not because he doubts the three-year-old’s quality.

The Te Awamutu trainer will run the well-related gelding in the Barfoot & Thompson 1200 after also nominating him for the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy.

Wealth Prince posted an overdue maiden victory at Avondale last time out after a let-up and Gillovic has now erred on the side of caution with a possible winter trip to Australia in mind.

“He’s up to stakes class for sure, but he’s back from a freshen-up and he’s not as seasoned as some of those others in the Mr Tiz,” he said.

“He’s also been gelded and I want to build up his confidence. I think he’s a really good horse and he was dead stiff not to have won his first two starts.”

Wealth Prince was placed behind the subsequent Group One placegetter Darci’s Dream and the progressive Cherry Vain at the outset of his career.

He was then less than six lengths from O’Marilyn in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes before a fourth in the Listed Champagne Stakes rounded off an encouraging two-year-old campaign.

A further five minor placings followed this season before Wealth Prince opened his account.

He is a son of Sufficient, who stands at Gillovic’s Highview Stud, and is a half-brother to the former smart race mare Wealth Princess.

She won her first five starts under Gillovic’s care and he also prepared her to run second in the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint.

She was then campaigned at the Queensland winter carnival, where she won the Gr.3 Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben and was subsequently sold.

“I’d love to take this one to Brisbane later this year as well,” Gillovic said.