Prince Creed Sentimental Favourite For Cup

There's no doubt Prince Creed will be an overwhelming sentimental favourite for Saturday's $25,000 to the winner 324m Richmond Straight Cup.

Prince Creed was trained by Paul Steedman who died suddenly on January 24, a few hours after the dog had won up the Richmond Straight and just four days before his Cup Heat win (Paul Steedman's funeral will be held at 11am on February 13 at St Paul's Church, Railway Parade, Lithgow).

Caretaker trainer Paul Roach said: "Prince Creed has drawn box seven in the final and that will suit him.

"He likes being drawn out wide and won his first straight race at Richmond from box eight in July.

"I know it's a cliche but you would not have met a nicer bloke than Paul Steedman, a quiet and gentle bloke who was only 64 when he passed away.

"We had been great mates for over 30 years and it would be wonderful if Prince Creed could win the Cup for his owners, Paul's widow Jen, his brother Michael and son Josh.

"Because Prince Creed won for Paul on January 24 there wasn't much I could muck up between then and last Saturday's Cup Heats and I certainly didn't have to do any work with the dog.''

Prince Creed clocked 17.45 in his Cup Heat, with the Jason Magri-trained Oscar Moses posting fastest time of 17.32.

Frank Hurst's Wells Of Silence recorded 17.46, with Robert Howard's Clock Off posting 17.47 ahead of Doonside Andy, trained by Michael Galea at 17.65 and Michelle Sultana's established straight track star Sacred Stance clocking 17.84.

Fastest qualifier Oscar Moses has drawn suitably in box three in Saturday's Richmond Straight Cup according to trainer Jason Magri.

"He wants that side of the track so if he comes out cleanly and can get to the fence he will be hard to beat,'' Magri said.

"Oscar Moses is a big dog but was 37.6kg when he won his Heat because he'd had a couple of weeks off and put on a bit of weight.''

Doonside Andy's trainer Michael Galea is convinced Oscar Moses is the dog to beat.

"He not only has great pace but is the strongest finisher in the field and looks well boxed,'' Galea said.

"Doonside Andy has box two and I was hoping he would draw towards the other side of the track but Prince Creed and Sacred Stance, in seven and eight, seem to have drawn nicely over there.

"It will be interesting to see what Clock Off does because he has box five and is likely to crash towards the rail.

"My dog will be one of the outsiders but anything can happen when the lids go up and whatever occurs on Saturday Doonside Andy has been a handy dog, he has won 15 races for his owner Jason Keller.

"And in early April he will be eligible for Masters races so should have plenty of wins ahead of him.''