Prepared in New Zealand by Murray Baker, the filly was bred and is raced by Barry Moreton. Her damsire is Noble Bijou, an unraced brother to Allez France and a stalwart in New Zealand's South island for many years. Prized Gem ran favorite on the strength of a fighting win in the Prime Mimister's Cup and third in the O'Shea Stakes at 2,400 meters (both Aust-II).
Prized gained his second southern hemisphere group I winner when his 4-year-old daughter Prized Gem landed the $500,000 (Australian funds) Brisbane Cup (Aust-I) at Eagle Farm on June 10.The filly dived between runners and arrived in the nick of time to defeat Scenic son Majestic Avenue by a half head. It rewarded a grand ride by Michael Rodd, the first apprentice jockey to win this race in 21 years. Longshot Nauders (by Tirol) was inches away and gained third by about the same margin in a blanket finish.The leading earner of the recently deceased Kris S, Prized won the 1989 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) and stayed at the track until five. He has commuted between the U.S. and New Zealand since 1996 and is again to return to Fayette Park in the Waikato. For 2002 he relocated from Dixiana Farms to Spendthrift. Sale of Century, another first crop member of Prized and the provider of his first Australian group I in the 1999 Rosehill Guineas, also ran in the Cup, but finished in the back half of the field at the end of the 3,200 meters in a moderate 3:24.6.
