Prima primed for SA Derby bid

New Zealand’s best performed maiden is in Australia with a plan to open his winning account at the highest level.

Prima was the surprise packet among the New Zealand three-year-olds for trainer Doug Cave and his performances will see him tackle richer targets from the Victorian stable of Lee and Shannon Hope.

The Sir Percy gelding will debut for them in Saturday’s Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville and while the father and son combination are confident of a bold showing, it is in a fortnight that he is expected to strip at his finest.

Prima’s Australian target is the $A500,000 Gr.1 South Australian Derby on May 9.

“That’s why he’s here and I’ve known (part-owner) Natasha Otto for quite some time,” Shannon Hope said.

“We’ve had a few horses for them like Atapi over the years and it’s gone from there. I’m sure he’ll run well, but he’ll improve and will be a better horse in a fortnight.”

Prima was unplaced on debut before Christmas before a fourth placing and then ran third at odds of 130-1 to Mongolian Khan in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas.

He showed that he was no one hit wonder when he placed again behind the star colt in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas, prompting connections to pay a late entry fee for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.

Prima was unplaced in the classic and following a break he ran second to the promising Maid Of Steel over a mile at Ellerslie earlier this month.

“He came over last Wednesday and we’re really pleased with him, his form is super,” Hope said.

Dean Yendall has been booked to ride Prima in Saturday’s 2020 metre event.