Latest News

By Ray Hickson

The runner-up position has been all too familiar to consistent mare Principessa so far this campaign but jockey Jason Collett is convinced a step up in distance at Kensington on Wednesday is what she’s looking for.

The four-year-old hadn’t raced below 1400m, and was placed at 2100m, in seven New Zealand starts before joining the Joe Pride stable where she’s recorded a win and seven placings from eight starts between 1200m and 1350m including three seconds on end this prep.

So he feels the TAB Handicap (1400m) presents a good chance for Principessa to get a taste of the winner’s stall.

“She’s building up to a trip that is going to suit her better,’’ Collett said.

“Obviously her racing pattern doesn’t do any favours for her and she probably prefers rain affected ground.

“But she may not have to be back as far up in trip and off a better gate.”

Principessa, $3.80 favourite with TAB on Tuesday, narrowly missed recording her second career win three weeks ago at Canterbury when runner-up behind So Good So Cool over 1250m, the winner there backing it up with a Randwick success last weekend.

Principessa runs second at Canterbury on May 24

“I thought I actually may have won the race,’’ Collett said.

“It was good the way she hit the line. She was lost for speed midrace off the tempo, it was too strong which showed us she’s probably looking for further so hopefully that will be the key.”

Another ex-Kiwi and former Pride-trained mare Elettrica, now with Richard and Will Freedman, is also searching for an elusive victory and Will Freedman said indications are it’s not too far away.

Elettrica had trialled nicely leading into a disappointing first-up showing at the Scone carnival before an improved effort at Warwick Farm two weeks ago, beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Ringarosa.

“She was well ridden last time, sometimes the inside at Warwick Farm isn’t the place to be and she found herself there but hopefully she can get a nice run and put her best foot forward,’’ Freedman said.

The four-year-old was placed in three of her six starts for Pride, including two close seconds, and Freedman is confident once she gets used to her new routine her confidence will grow.

“She’s just a light framed filly, a high stress filly, and I think she’s at her grade for now until she learns to handle the rigours of racing,’’ he said.

“Horses mature at different rates and while she is a four-year-old mare we are waiting for her to really mature mentally so she can handle those back-to-back starts.

“She’s got enough ability to keep progressing once she does that.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting