Having visited the winners' circle after two of his ten starts in 2021, six-year-old Noosa Prince will soon be embarking on his second season in Norway, and this is a horse we can hope to see making his presence felt in the better handicap races at Øvrevoll in 2022. He won twice within seven days last September, defeating Prince Of Tides by three parts of a length in the Vista Hermosa Handicap over 1370 metres, and following up by beating Kildare by 2 lengths in the 1600-metres Wattan Handicap. Both races were staged on turf. Winners of 12 races in 2021 were behind him when he beat Prince Of Tides, and the competition was strong also when he proved much too good for Kildare, a rival with 8 career wins on his CV. Noosa Prince had winners on 8 races in 2021 in his wake on that occasion. He is clearly a good runner, and he held his position as a genuine 80 plus rated performer through the season. Noosa Prince went into '21 on handicap mark 84 and he closed it out on 86. His current mark is 85, after the handicapper dropped him one kilogram after a fourth place finish over 1750 metres on the dirt track in October, his final outing last year. Noosa Prince was beaten Like A King, Buckybabe and and stable companion We Got The Boss in that event. His best form has come on turf though it's worth remembering that Noosa Prince won three times on the dirt track at Bo Park in his younger days - scoring over 1400 metres and 1600 metres as a juvenile and over 1600 metres once more at three.

Noosa Prince is a son of Kodiac, a highly successful stallion. Kodiac is a son of Danehill out of Rafha (Kris). Rafha was a top class middle distance performer for legendary trainer Henry Cecil. She won the Prix de Diane Hermes (G1) – French Oaks – at Chantilly back in 1987. Ridden by Willie Carson, she beat Moon Cactus by half a length in the French classic. That filly was also trained by Cecil, while Andre Fabre had to settle for third place with his contender, Colour Chart. It was a finish of future broomares all right. Moon Cactus, who had won the Prestige Stakes (G3) as a two-year-old, became the dam of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Doyen and Epsom Oaks (G1) heroine Moonshell. Colour Chart passed her talents on to her daughter Tempera, who captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and to her son Equerry, winner of three G3 events in France and third to the mighty Hawk Wing in the Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown Park in England.

As a son of Danehill and Rafha, the four time winning sprinter Kodiac was always going to find a place at stud – though nobody expected him to develop into an elite sire. Which is exactly what he did. His racing record was nowhere near as good as his pedigree – Kodiac failed to win a Group race (he was third in a G3 and managed fourth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1). His career at stud has been miles better. Kodiac has sired more than 140 stakes performers and he holds the record for most juvenile winners in a single season. He has been sire of two-year-olds both in Europe in 2018 and Ireland / Great Britain. In addition, Kodiac sired more winners than any other stallion in Europe in 2018. Among his best known offspring are Campanelle, Kodi Bear, Hello Youmzain, Tiggy Wiggy and Best Solution. Kodiac is a half-brother to Invincible Spirit, another sprinter who became a top stallion.

Noosa Prince's pedigree lends itself mainly to turf racing but there is some dirt influence too. His dam, Something Magic, is a daughter of Lexington Stakes (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Proud Citizen. Something Magic raced ten times without success in England. Her best runs came over 6 and 7 furlongs on turf. She is a daughter of Comeback Queen, who was a Listed placed mile winner and became a useful broodmare. Comeback Queen is a daughter of Miss Universe and thus a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Donativum. GS 220404