THE WILLIAM KROPP TRAINED PRINCE LEVI LOWERS ANTINO'S DOOMBEN 2000M TRACK RECORD

By Graham Potter | Saturday, February 7, 2026

When the Tony Gollan trained Antino blasted the opposition out of the park in the 2025 Doomben Cup over 2000m, beating Fawkner Park by a touch under four lengths, the son of Redwood stopped the clock in 2.00.88, running the last 600m in 37.16 seconds … and stretching the balance of the field out all of 21.1 lengths behind him.

On Saturday at Doomben the much less heralded Prince Levi from the comparatively very much smaller sized stable of William Kropp gave his field a galloping lesson in a humble BM78 Handicap over the 2000m trip, stopping the clock in 2.00.25, running the last 600m in 36.38 seconds … stretching the balance of the field out up to 11.93 lengths behind him.

That put a new track record in the record books.

The race in theory was run to open up the possibility to such a result but Prince Levi still had to produce the effort required to achieve it and, under the guidance and understanding of regular pilot Mark Du Plessis, who has ridden Prince Levi in all of his last four starts, Prince Levi was able to carry the Kropp stable’s blue with the white vee silks colours to a win of distinction.

When Capital Asset ($11) and Texas Fireball ($7.50) engaged in a cut-throat pace in the first half of the race (there was sixteen lengths from first to last), Du Plessis, after he had made certain he got Prince Levi away well enough to be able to pick his spot from the number one barrier, had Prince Levi racing well within himself, on the rail, some seven lengths off the lead when the field went down the back straight.

The leaders had to come back to the field, and they did so in the approach to the home turn. Du Plessis had already asked Prince Levi to go then, surging up along the rail then shifting one out around Capital Asset to line up a clear run for home on straightening after only cornering a length off the under pressure, long-time leader.

Du Plessis wasted no time in taking Prince Levi into the lead early in the home straight, and the others were left chasing from that moment.

Archer’s Game ($31) did give some cheek along the inside of Prince Levi, but the Kropp trained runner always had that one covered and Prince Levi went on to win by a comfortable 1.82 length margin.

The win was worth $48 800 and took the son of Casino Prince’s prize-money haul to $198 150.

That took care of the business side of the ledger.

The track record … well that was all about bragging rights.

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