Cairo Prince turns in five-furlong breeze

Cairo Prince continued his preparations for the $1 million Florida Derby on

March 29 by breezing a sharp five furlongs Saturday morning at Palm Meadows,

Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility.

Working in company with four-year-old multiple stakes winner Long River,

Cairo Prince was clocked in :59 4/5 in his first five-eighths work since romping

in the $400,000 Holy Bull on January 25. It was the fastest breeze of 35 horses

on the day.

"He worked very well," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “It was a little

faster than we wanted this far out, but yet we wanted a decent work. It was a

great work. He worked excellent and everything went well. We were all very

happy, and we'll probably not go in company next week because we're looking for

a 1:01 and change. But, he worked great."

Cairo Prince has now worked three times since the Holy Bull, his second Grade

2 victory and a performance that made him one of the leading prospects for the

Kentucky Derby on May 3. He had two similar breezes prior to the Holy Bull,

going five furlongs in :59 3/5 on January 5 and :59 4/5 on January 12, both

bullets.

"He is just doing very well," McLaughlin said. "I did put him in company, and

he always works better in company, a little faster. It was really a great day.

It was a great work, and we're all thrilled. It was perfect, really, just a

little bit faster than maybe I wanted but that's been him. Going into the Holy

Bull, too, he went in 59 and three, 59 and four. That's a good sign."

Earlier this week, a majority interest in Cairo Prince was sold to Sheikh

Mohammed al-Maktoum's Darley operation by owners Terry Murray, Paul Braverman,

Harvey Clarke and Craig Robertson, who purchased the three-year-old son of

Pioneerof the Nile for $250,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Cairo Prince will remain with McLaughlin but run in the colors of Godolphin

Stable.

"I've been involved with Darley and Sheikh Mohammed for 20 years. He's a

great person to have involved with the horse going to the Kentucky Derby,"

McLaughlin said. "I'm very thankful that the four gentlemen got together with

Darley. There was a lot of interest in the horse, a lot of people trying to

offer money for him.

"I'm very happy that they ended up with Darley because I love the horse, and

I'm hopeful that we're one of the favorites for the Florida Derby and also the

Kentucky Derby. It would be fabulous to be standing in the winner's circle with

these four owners plus the new partner in Sheikh Mohammed. It's just a perfect

case scenario for Team McLaughlin and, hopefully, for Cairo Prince."

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