3 Win Saturday - Crown Princess Rules
29 December, 2024
Carrying the DE brand of breeder David Ellis CNZM, Crown Princess (3 f Embellish – Princess Davone, by Iffraaj) trounced her rivals in the $18,500 Arawa Park Hotel Maiden 1560 metres on 28 December at Rotorua.
Having fought strongly for third after sharing a competitive pace when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie, Crown Princess was ideally drawn (5) to rate a top three chance and capitalised with an outstanding performance.
Ridden by former Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn, Crown Princess began swiftly to secure a perfect spot in fourth, was purring along inside the 500m and after taking over turning for home, she raced away to win impressively by four and a half lengths.
“She drew a good gate and I elected to use it,” Pinn said. “We got the one-one, she relaxed nicely and put them away pretty easily.
“She’s only had the two starts and has a bright future. She’s nominated at Ellerslie, for the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes, so it looks a good race to get some black type by her name.”
Owned by the Te Akau Glittering Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Crown Princess ran 1560 metres in 1:33.6, last 600m in 35.5, and as second favourite returned $3.20 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.
“It was a really good win today by a filly that was bred out at Te Akau Stud,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.
“We’ve seen her as a foal, as a weanling, and yearling, and always liked her. She’s a big strong girl and we’ve had a big rap on the stock of Embellish for a long time. They just need a bit of time, a bit of patience early on, but he’s a stallion that is underrated and one that we think is going places.
“On her run today, we definitely think this filly is up to black type and we’re really looking forward to her future.”
On course, racing manager Reece Trumper said providing Crown Princess came through the run in good order that she could take her place in $270,000 Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie.
“It was a great ride by Wiremu,” Trumper said. “He’s a big part of the Te Akau team. He's been at track work the last two mornings including today, is there all the time, knows the horses and it just shows - he’s a very talented rider.
"She does well in the feed bin, but we’ll just assess things after today and make sure she does continue to improve before finalising a decision to race again in a few days.”
Crown Princess is by the Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish (Savabeel), who was purchased by David Ellis as a yearling colt at Karaka, who went on to win the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas, before standing at Cambridge Stud. She is from Princess Davone, trained by Te Akau to win four races from 1200m – 2100m, and was a filly who was stakes' placed on multiple occasions.
“She’s been a lovely filly from the outset and has a great group of owners, which includes Ronald Lau who owns our first winner of the day at Rotorua, Colonel Warden outright,” Ellis said.
“Each year we try to pick out the best two or three yearlings that we’ve bred and offer them to our owners.
“We recently had Maven Belle (Burgundy) who was the Champion Two-Year-Old after winning the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, and Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) who won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks and became New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.
“We’re having great success with the progeny of Embellish and they’re good quality horses. He’s becoming a really good sire, especially with his oldest being four-year-olds now, and we’re lucky to have quite a few mares in foal to him again this year.
“We bought the dam, Princess Davone, from quite a good staying type family, so it’s encouraging with a view to Crown Princess stepping up in distance.
“It’s a busy time of year for all the team and Karyn and I really proud of the commitment they’re all showing. While most people are on holiday, they’re all working harder than ever.”
Crown Princess was strapped by Kohen Collett.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz