Talented five-year-old mare Principessa has made it back-to-back Sydney metropolitan victories in the space of three days.
The Joe Pride-trained daughter of Vadamos was an impressive winner at Canterbury on Wednesday, and bounced through that run to take her place in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Patiently handled by apprentice Reece Jones, Principessa again showed a strong turn of foot to score by just under two lengths, vindicating Pride’s bold decision.
“I said to the owners this morning when I did the update, It’s rocks or diamonds this sort of tactic. She will either put in a peak run or run a little bit flat but pull up well,” Pride said.
“She did that and you can often get a real peak performance out of them and that is what we saw from her today.
“There were 80,000 reasons (first prize of $82,500) to back her up and the horse is fit and well.
“I think we get too protective of horses at times, keeping them in their box and waiting for the perfect opportunity for them. She raced really well during the week. I don’t back too many up after a win, but she seemed to pull up really well.
“The biggest factor in me backing her up was having another wet track today. She has been looking for a wet track all winter. She finally got one on Wednesday and again today, whereas looking at the forecast it is not going to be wet in the next few weeks and she will go to the paddock.”
After winning on Wednesday, the handicapper added a two-kilo penalty to her acceptance on Saturday but it made little difference to the former Kiwi galloper, who sports the colours of OTI Racing.
“She had a couple of things against her. A three-day back-up, a two-kilo penalty against her but credit to Joe and his team. They have done a tremendous job with this mare all campaign and she keeps turning up week after week and putting in great performances,” winning jockey Reece Jones said.
“Her turn of foot is absolutely electric. I jumped on the back of the stablemate (Casino Kid) and thought I was going really well, so I just bided my time, looked after her and made sure she was strong late and she was too good for them. It is really good to get a win for the OTI team as well.”
Purchased as a yearling at Karaka Book 1 from the draft of Rich Hill Stud by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, Principessa originally raced in New Zealand under the tutelage of Roger James and Robert Wellwood and placed in five of her first seven starts before transferring across the Tasman.
Principessa is by outstanding miler Vadamos out of Penthouse Princess, a full sister to Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance. Now a four-time winner, the mare has been placed on 13 occassions and has earnings of A$222,119 to date.