PRINCE LEVI RULES AT THE COAST

By Graham Potter | Saturday, March 14, 2026

Prince Levi added another notch onto his belt when he landed a fourth career win, taking out a BM78 Handicap over 2050m at the Gold Coast on March 14.

The progressive William Kropp trained son of Casino Prince was winning for the second time in his last three starts here … and he has hardly put foot wrong in 2026 with his other three results since the start of the year returning two runner-up finishes and one third placing, all of that coming on the back of a finely forged horse / jockey relationship between Prince Levi and Mark Du Plessis which has brought significant rewards.

Prince Levi came into this Gold Coast assignment following a second place finish in BM80 Handicap over 2200m at Doomben three weeks earlier.

The Kropp trained runner was beaten by 1.55 lengths that day by Akkadian Emperor (who would frank that form by winning again next time out), but it remained a very game effort, particularly considering that Prince Levi carried 2kg more than the winner (59kg to 57kg).

Prince Levi, who came back in distance for this Gold Coast test, found market support as the second favourite at $4.40 behind the race $3.20 race favourite, the Chris Waller trained Lovey Dovey, who, in her last three starts, had landed back-to-back wins at Ipswich before claiming a runner-up finish in her last start over 2200m behind the self-same Akkadian Emperor.

So, Prince Levi and Lovey Dovey had an interesting point of common ground coming into their clash. Both had finished in second place in their respective previous starts where both had been beaten by Akkadian Emperor. Both races were over 2200m.

As mentioned, Prince Levi carried 2kg more Akkadian Emperor and was beaten by 1,55 lengths whereas Lovey Dovey carried 4kg less than Akkadian Emperor and was beaten by 0.85 lengths.

On paper, you would have thought those weight calculations suggested it would be advantage Prince Levi … but, adjusted to the weights set for their Gold Coast encounter, where Prince Levi had to give away no less than 5kg advantage to Lovey Dovey, it looked like it would come down to a close contest between the two main fancies … and, essentially, that is the way the race panned out.

Du Plessis rode a perfect race. He made certain Prince Levi was able to take full advantage of his draw by jumping cleanly from the number one barrier, before settling into a comfortable rhythm in fourth place early … and then in fifth place going down the back stretch racing some four lengths off the lead.

Up to fourth and switched out wider for a run on the home turn, Du Plessis took just a moment to switch Prince Levi around heels on straightening … and then he set the Kropp trained runner about his task, in what was to be a quite demanding chase all of the way down the home straight.

With some other runners cutting the cornet down the inside, Prince Levi found himself contesting the lead in a line of five runners across the track as the field came through the 200m mark.

In that moment he did have momentum on his side, but he still had to stay strong over those final 200m to peg back the challenges of those around him … and then, most importantly, to peg back the late, flying threat of Lovey Dovey who only got out late and then surged home over the concluding stages.

Prince Levi, who had done more work early than the race favourite, was not to be denied and he stayed on superbly after dealing with a large amount of pressure in the run home, to beat the fast finishing Lovey Dovey by 0.15 lengths.

All credit to trainer William Kropp as Prince Levi had to be well prepared and rock hard fit to produce this result in testing circumstances … and Prince Levi added another feather in his cap by doing so by saluting on soft ground for the first time.

Credit to Mark Du Plessis too for a ride which provided a big contribution to Prince Levi’s winning effort.
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Earlier in the week William Kropp had one runner in action at Warwick where Oh Pretty Emma had to settle for second place behind the Matthew Hoysted trained Chevallum in a Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1500m on March 10.

No disgrace there as the winner looks to be a progressive type. This was only Chevallum’s third career start and he finished a close-up second on debut and has now won two-in-a-row.

For her part, Oh Pretty Emma, who is s a two-time winner from ten starts, turned in a fair enough effort in her first start beyond 1400m.
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Matt Kropp also saddled a runner at Warwick on March 10, and he too had to be content with a second place which the four-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding Cardiologist, ridden by Harrison Shaw, achieved in a Class 2 Handicap over 1350m, also going down to a Matthew Hoysted trained runner in the form of Colleano.

Cardiologist is another Kropp trained runner who quietly pays his way with this being his third successive finish in the first three placings.

His overall record is two wins and ten placings from nineteen starts.

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