"He went really good - he only got beaten by two heads.
"He really hit the line good and Darryl Bradley was delighted with him.
"He's improved from the run - and a bit of rain won't worry him."
Prince could not put his finger on the reasons for Ric O'Shea's flat patch earlier this season, although he believes the 6-year-old is now better settling midfield, rather than on the pace.
"Sometimes he's been ridden a bit indifferent - I think he's better ridden back off the speed a bit," he said.
"He's got a habit of holding his breath, so the more you kick him up early, the more he chokes himself."
Prince is not concerned by the wide draw of barrier 13, particularly if the rain comes.
"He's drawn the outer but with the rain around - he's got a few options out there.
"I'd like to see him midfield [during the running] - you can't give those good horses a head start."
The most decorated runner in the field is Nashville, who meets his rivals on good terms, sharing the topweight of 59kg with five other horses.
Steven Anderton respects the dual Otaki weight-for-age winner, but he can at least be confident of The Glitzy One's ability to get through a heavy track.
"Nashville has got to get the 2000m but he's the class horse of the field," Anderton said. "It's going to be really wet and at least we know our mare can handle it."
Anderton has kept the 6-year-old up to the mark since her Hororata Cup win over 1800m.
"She's been just going through the motions - she had a workout on Saturday and went quite nicely.
"She had a three-quarter run on Wednesday and she's come up good. She's really well and she's fit."
Anderton may consider backing up the daughter of Flying Spur in the Riverton Cup on April 19, when she may be joined by her stablemate depending on the track conditions.
"I may back her up in it - or the Great Autumn as she's won it in the last two years."
