Beating Horlicks and Bonecrusher in the Cox Plate was a remarkable achievement

Poetic Prince, known in Australia as Our Poetic Prince, was an Australian bred and New Zealand trained race-horse that was a top performer at Group one level. By American sire Yeats (Nijinsky II) out of the broodmare Finnisterre (Biscay), Poetic Prince was trained by John Wheeler at New Plymouth. After a third in his debut race at Ellerslie Racecourse in April 1987 he won his next three races, at Trentham Racecourse and Foxton over 1200m ridden by David Walsh and then Wairarapa RC (1400m) with Garry Phillips. He was then taken to Eagle Farm where he raced once, a sixth placing in the Castlemaine Stakes (1600m) on a heavy track behind Flotilla and Hunter.

Starting his three year-old season in New Zealand, Poetic Prince won four races in a row including a Gr.3 1200m at Waikato from Weston Lea and Young Indian. Returning to Australia he performed at the very top level and was first past the post in the 1987 Caulfield Guineas ridden by Noel Harris, but relegated to second behind Marwong in the Stewards room. The gelding then ran second in the 1987 Cox Plate, ridden by Gary Phillips, behind the classy Rubiton. He was fourth in the Victoria Derby, with Noel Harris aboard behind Omnicorp and All Ashore, then third up after a spell Noel Harris rode Poetic Prince to a win in the Otaki-Maori WFA over 1600m from Westminster and Courier Bay. Another visit to Brisbane for four races included two second places, including the Queensland Guineas (1600m) behind Planet Ruler.

With Noel Harris aboard he won two 1400m weight-for-age races at Waikato as a 4yo and Hawkes Bay and then went to Moonee Valley to claim the 1988 Feehan Stakes (1600m) beating Flotilla, followed by a second in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) behind Sky Chase. His next race was his most significant victory, the 1988 Cox Plate where he beat the two Kiwi champions in Horlicks and Bonecrusher. It was sweet revenge for his '87 defeat to Rubiton. Planet Ruler went straight to the front while Our Poetic Prince settled nicely in fourth. Horlicks copped a bad check early dropping out and Bonecrusher was reefing and pulling, unable to find a groove and left 12 lengths at the rear with Horlicks. In an all New Zealand finish, Our Poetic Prince swooped on the corner and shot away from the field strongly. After a tough ride Bonecrusher charged late with Horlicks finishing over the top of him. With better runs either could have nabbed the Wheeler horse, but today was his day. Typical for the era, the Cox Plate was a rough run affair with the Kiwi's on the wrong end of stick but ending up 1-2-3 at the post. Also in the field was the 6x G1 winner Vo Rogue, High Regard and Flotilla. Only the 1992 Cox Plate field alone would have surpassed this field in terms of overall quality.

Subsequent performances included a fourth in the LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) behind Empire Rose and Vo Rogue. Victory in the Waikato Sprint (1400m) over Courier Bay and Sirstaci. Third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) behind The Gentry and Maurine. Third in the Australian Cup Cup (2000m) beaten by Vo Rogue and Super Impose. Our Poetic Prince won the Tancred Stakes (2400m) over Top Class and Apollo Run, the ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick over Dandy Andy and Beau Zam and the Otaki-Maori Weight for Age (1400m) beating Straight Order and Krona. His final race was a sixth in the P.J. O'Shea Stakes behind Card Shark and Tawrrific on 3 June 1989. Poetic Prince was voted the New Zealand Horse of the Year for the 1988/89 season. After his racing career he stood as a stallion at stud but was not as successful as he was on the track.

RACE RECORD - 36: 16-8-3

EARNINGS - $3,476,499

1988 W.S Cox Plate 

1989 The BMW Stakes

1989 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes