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By Graeme White

Closing in on half a century of starts, Prince Of Helena can add another feature race to his list in the Specsavers Wagga Ted Ryder Cup (1675m) on Tuesday.

Prince Of Helena has been a consistent performer for his owners with nine wins, eight seconds and 12 thirds from 49 starts.

The veteran has won the past two editions of the Narrandera Cup earning a spot in the $3 million The Big Dance at Randwick.

Prince of Helena (Jake Duffy; red cap, white blinkers) finishes a placing in a Dubbo Cup. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Trainer Craig Weeding is also a part-owner of the eight-year-old who has earned $415,423.

Not a bad return on his yearling purchase price of $4000 and even better when you combine it with stablemate Big Day Out (bought for $2500 and has earnings of $280,000).

“We got them at the same time and they have been great for my career,” Weeding said. “Prince Of Helena makes me look good (as a trainer),” he laughed.

It’s not hard to see why Weeding has a soft spot for the pair.

“Prince Of Helena was lightly raced as a younger horse. He wasn’t ready– we looked after him – and it has paid off,” he added.

Prince Of Helena is rated at $3.90 on the TAB behind the favourite Associate ($2.30) with Our Last Cash ($5.50) and Baledon ($6.50) also in the market.

Weeding said the Ted Ryder Cup had been a target race for Prince Of Helena who will be ridden by 3kg-claiming apprentice Sarah McDonough.

“It will be three weeks between runs for him which is ideal off a bit of a break,” he said. “He was placed in the Wodonga and Tatura Cups which were only six days apart so the plan was to give him a few weeks until Wagga.”

As for his chances, Weeding said Prince Of Helena was well placed from the inside draw with 60kg to carry: “He is racing as well as ever and has been a real legend of horse for us,” he enthused.

Prince Of Helena has also been placed at Caulfield this campaign and also previously in the Swan Hill Cup, Echuca Cup and Bendigo Golden Mile.

Associate was placed in his latest start in the Nowra Cup and has also finished third, fourth and sixth in Sydney Highways.

Meanwhile, Weeding also has the well performed Smart Poppy ($9) starting first-up in the JGW Harvest Crichton Cup Benchmark 82 (1200m). Smart Poppy won his first three starts last campaign in lower benchmark races and Weeding is expecting a forward showing off the back on a solid trial.

“It’s the first time he has carried a light weight (55kg) for a fair while because he normally carries 61 up to 64 kilos in lower graded races,” he said.

Tap ‘N’ Run ($3.80) has the class to win, but with 63kg first-up he is in for tough test on the inside track.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga-Riverside here