Taupo Double - Proud of the Princess

Impressive when clearing Maidens, Crown Princess (4 m Embellish – Princess Davone, by Iffraaj) got her racing career back in order with a strong victory in the $18,500 Fiber Fresh Rating 65 1800 metres on 22 February at Taupo.

An impressive winner within her first three starts at a three-year-old, Crown Princess finished third on debut to subsequent Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) winner Willydoit (Tarzino), trounced her rivals by 4.5 lengths when winning a Maiden over 1560 metres at Rotorua, and finished fifth when stepping up in the Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) – formerly the Royal Stakes.

She was then in jeopardy of early retirement following an accident, but she looked to be resurrecting when finishing strongly for second in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 5 February at Tauranga, and rated a top three chance. 

“It certainly was a satisfying win,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “She had a terrible float accident on the way to Taranaki, last year, and the team and Waikato Equine group nursed her back to health, we were lucky to save her.

“It’s been a long, slow, process, but worth the effort because she’s a mare with good ability and everyone will be thrilled to see her back in the winner’s circle.

“It was a lovely ride of Opie’s to cuddle her up in midfield and once clear she was very strong, particularly the closer she got to the line. 

“We were happy to see her return to racing, let alone winning, but it now looks like she can put that mishap behind her and win more races.”

From barrier three, Crown Princess was assured an economical trip by Opie Bosson ONZM, and after travelling well she sighted clear air early in the run home and stayed on very well.

On Good4 footing, she ran 1800 metres in 1:51.4, last 600m in 35.5 (approx.), and paid $1.90 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

Carrying the DE brand of her breeder David Ellis CNZM, and owned by the Te Akau Glittering Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZMZ), Crown Princess was syndicated amongst Te Akau owners and is by Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish (Savabeel), purchased by Ellis as a yearling at Karaka, to subsequently win the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m). 

Crown Princess is out Princess Davone, trained by Te Akau to win four races from 1200m – 2100m, and she was also multiple-times stakes' placed. 

“Each year we try to pick out the best two or three yearlings that we’ve bred and offer them to our owners,” Ellis said. 

“We’ve bred Maven Belle (Burgundy), who was Champion Two-Year-Old after winning the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Also Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) - she won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and became New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.”

Ellis is also buoyed by the continued success of Embellish, as a sire, who also recently produced his sixth individual stakes winner when Kazaru won the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) last Friday, in the colours of OTI Racing. 

“We’re having great success with the progeny of Embellish and they’re good quality horses. He’s becoming a really good sire for New Zealand, especially with his oldest being five-year-olds now, and we’re lucky to have had quite a few mares to him. They keep getting better and better as they mature.

“We bought the dam, Princess Davone and she's from quite a good staying type family, so it’s encouraging with a view to Crown Princess stepping up in distance and she’s already raced well up to 2000 metres.”

Somewhat underrated, Embellish is a versatile sire of stakes winners from 1100m – 2200m, has the potential to fly the flag for 10-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), and continues to leave lovely types of racehorses.

Bred on the highly successful Savabeel / O’Reilly cross, and brother of Group One winner Diademe (Savabeel), Embellish has a terrific 3 x 4 Sir Tristram cross in his pedigree. 

There is a strong influence on his distaff line of Zabeel, Sir Tristram, Northern Dancer, Round Table, and My Babu.

Embellish also has the influences of Round Table (5/7 x 6/6), Better Boy (7 x 5), Princequillo (8 lines), My Babu (4), Nearco (18), Nasrullah (7) and the brothers Noholme and Todman (together).  

Crown Princess carries a bloodline cross to Nureyev (one of the highest quality influences in thoroughbred history) on the sire line of Embellish and dam line of broodmare sire Iffraaj. 

Crown Princess was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz