This magnificent print of Universal Prince was taken from an original oil painting by renowned equine artist Alister Simpson A.A.E.A, shortly after the 2001 AJC Derby.
This was one of seventeen AJC Derby winners painted by New Zealand born Simpson whose works are acknowledged all over the world.
Universal Prince, foaled in 1997 was by Scenic from Biscay Bird (Bluebird) and was expertly trained and managed throughout his career by the late Bede Murray. From thirty starts he registered seven wins and ten placings for $2,974,629.
His wins included the Gr 3 Newcastle Spring Stakes, Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes, Gr 1 Canterbury Guineas, Gr 1 AJC Derby and the Gr 1 Ranvet Stakes. He was second in a Victoria Derby and a BMW.
His regular jockey was Justin Sheehan who had a perfect understanding of the horse. Justin allowed him to get further back than expected in the Derby and Bede Murray admitted he was concerned in the middle stages of the classic.
Universal Prince had a dynamic turn of foot, and Sheehan was confident he’d round up the leaders comfortably. He went so fast from the top of the rise that he had the race won just inside the 200m.
I’ll never forget the look on Bede Murray’s face the morning before the 2001 Melbourne Cup when VRC vets ruled Universal Prince out of the big race. The horse had looked subtly lame in the off hind leg after failing in the McKinnon Stakes on the Saturday.
Bede was adamant the stallion often displayed a little unevenness in his hind leg action when trotting up and tried desperately to convince the vets the horse wasn’t lame. It was a trying time for the trainer as Universal Prince was trotted up and down before an anxious media throng.
Subtle as it was, the vets diagnosed lameness and ordered the withdrawal of the one-time favourite. There’s little doubt it was the lowest point in the successful career of the respected trainer.