Interstate Stars To Chase Qld Winter Riches

REIGNING Million Dollar Chase winner Handsome Prince will be among an array of interstate stars chasing the riches on offer during this year's TAB Queensland Winter Carnival.

On Wednesday, Racing Queensland launched the carnival which will see 12 Group and Listed races run and won with more than $1.3 million in prizemoney up for grabs.

The attractive slate of feature events has caught the attention of a number of leading trainers, including two-time Million Dollar Chase winner Peter Lagogiane.

Two years ago, Lagogiane journeyed to Queensland with his inaugural Million Dollar Chase winner Mystic Riot, finishing second to Dam Slippery in the State of Origin Sprint before contesting the Group 1 Brisbane Cup behind runaway winner Sennachie.

And it's a blueprint the NSW conditioner is planning to follow with Handsome Prince which is on the cusp of another return from injury.

"I really enjoyed my time in Queensland with Mystic Riot and I am looking forward to getting back up there in a few weeks," Lagogiane said.

"I'm aiming Handsome Prince towards a run in either the Origin match-race or Origin Sprint and all things being equal after that it will be on to the Brisbane Cup.

"Since winning the Million Dollar Chase Handsome Prince has had just the two starts in heats of the Melbourne Cup and Golden Easter Egg and has pulled up injured on both occasions.

"But I'm really happy with his progress and look forward to getting him up to Albion Park – it's going to be a fantastic carnival."

While Handsome Prince will be Lagogiane's foremost carnival hopeful, he's set to journey to Brisbane with a powerful support cast also.

"Pay Call and Vicki's Queen both ran sensational finishing first and second in the Ladies Bracelet on the weekend so they'll make the trip north as well," Lagogiane said.

"And I've got two young dogs I'm really excited about in Modern Talking and Lock Master. They'll go towards the Flying Amy Classic."

The carnival kicks into full stride at Albion Park on Thursday night with finals of the Listed Young Guns (520m) and Carnival Chase (600m).