A Right Royal Performance

 

A ten out of ten ride aided Princess Davone (4 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone, by Bertolini) in her fresh victory of the Mount Shop Rating 75 1200 metres on 21 October at Pukekohe.

Te Akau apprentice Jasmine Fawcett, who registered her first win aboard stable-mate Zambezi Warrior (Pentire) at the last meeting on the course in September, overcame an awkward barrier (9) to position Princess Davone in the trail after 400 metres.

Travelling sweetly thereafter, and turning for the 500m run home with plenty of horse underneath her, Fawcett was held in a pocket until presented with a gap at the 150m and Princess Davone quickened under minimal urging to win well.

On footing upgraded from Slow7 to Dead6 earlier in the programme, Princess Davone ran the 1200 metres in 1:11.9, last 600m in 35.7, winning by half a length.

Owned by the Te Akau Princess Davone Syndicate, managed by David Ellis, Princess Davone was bred by David & Ione Lees who along with some of their friends stayed in the ownership.

“All credit to Jamie,” said Ellis, of Jamie Richards who co-trains the mare with Stephen Autridge.

“We were asked if we were interested in her as a 2YO and Jamie went and inspected her, and then I went and had a look at her before we bought her.  Karyn syndicated her while we were on our winter holiday in Hawaii.

“I was thrilled to see Jasmine (Fawcett) win another race for us,” Ellis said. “She is a young lady that is trying so hard and she really rode that mare, today, beautifully.

“She held her up, held her up, didn't go too soon and when she got the gap she really accelerated.  I was very impressed, and with her [four-kilo] claim she's really good value at the moment.

“There are some really good owners in the mare and I'd say on her run today that she's a mare, after showing a lot of ability as a three-year-old in the South Island, that come Christmas is going to win some nice races,” Ellis said.

Having trialled nicely for fifth behind triple Group One winner Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj), in the fastest (59.8) of two Open heats over 1000 metres on Slow9 at Avondale, Princess Davone had placed five times in stakes races last season after winning fresh up over 1200 metres at Riccarton.

“As a three-year-old she showed a lot of ability in the South Island, leading into the 1000 Guineas and she went a really good race in the 1000 Guineas,” Ellis said.

Following the win Noel Harris, the apprentice jockey mentor for New Zealand Racing, had some kind words for Fawcett: “You pushed her out beautifully, and see what I mean when we talk about balance.

“That's all I want - push out and keep balanced - and remember you can't make slow horses go fast.  You showed patience and waited, waited, and rather than go too wide you just sat there patiently. Some horses will take the gap and that's what you waited for,” Harris said.

Co-breeder and part owner David Lees said: “We've travelled with her to Gore, and went to the 1000 Guineas, all her races, and she's given us a lot of thrills.

“She's five times stakes' placed, won first up at Riccarton, so I actually gave her a good chance on a dead track, and we'll leave it entirely to Jamie and Steve as to where she goes next and they do a bloody good job."

Princess Davone presented in very good order and was strapped by Jamie Richards.

“She (Fawcett) rode her super,” said Richards. “Drawn one from the outside and ended up in the trail, so full marks to Jasmine.

“She's ridden her well at the trials, the trial form was good and she ran really well, so very pleased.  She's a handy enough mare. She'd been to Taupo for a gallop, looked good in the parade and the form out of the South Island, those black type races was good enough to suggest she'd run well.

Princess Davone returned $6.20 & $2.50 on the tote.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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