All About Prized Icon
Prized Icon is a 2013 dark bay colt that had a slow start to his racing career. He began running at the start of his two year old season in late 2015 with a number of mediocre results. A seventh and a third saw him spelled for 12 weeks to give him a chance to grow up a bit in the paddock. Over the next few weeks, he saw a number of weeks off for freshening, interspersed with some placings and one or two firsts
He ran his first Group One race at Randwick, in April 2016, where he stormed home to beat Chimboraa and Devine Prophet and was a favourite with sports betting NZ fans. The runners up didn’t have a chance of catching the almost black colt from the beginning, after he kicked off well and maintained the lead throughout the race.
Victoria Derby
Prized Icon’s trainer, James Cummings was unsure as to whether to actually run him in the Victoria Derby in October 2016. He had shown promise so far, but no blistering turns of speed or anything to make him really stand out as an elite horse. His previous race saw him being soundly beaten, coming in fifth out of ten. To be fair, this was because he was bumped at the beginning of the race and battled to recover from it. Over a long race like 1200 meters, the horses like to have their space and breathing room. Prized Icon did not get this at Moonee Valley and it showed in his results.
James Cummings was very unsure whether to run his youngster at the Derby but was persuaded to do so. Prized Icon ran a superb race, proving his trainer’s doubt unfounded. He beat both favourites, Sacred Elixir and Inference, proving himself a force to be reckoned with. He is currently being freshened on a well-deserved rest for five weeks before he returns hopefully to great things.
The Cumming’s
Prized Icon’s trainer, James Cummings is from a very long and well-respected line of thoroughbred trainers in Australia. His father won a derby, as did his grandfather. His great grand father started training horses in 1911, so James has grown up with thoroughbreds for as long as he remembers. Prized Icon will forever be in his heart as his first and hopefully not last Derby Winner.
Two Year Old Of 2016
Prized Icon is a contender for Australia’s two year old thoroughbred of 2016. He has had two Group One wins already under his tender belt, and could possibly be aimed at The Race That Stops A Nation, the Melbourne Cup in 2017. Either way, Prized Icon looks set for a blistering career both on and off the track.
His bloodline includes the famed Danehill Danzig bloodline via his dam, Tropical Affair who is a direct descendent of the champion Danehill himself. Other big names in his pedigree include Halo, Bletchingly and Mr Prospector.
