From the office of:-

THOROUGHBRED RACING S.A. LIMITED
Racing Services Officer - Jason Hickson
Telephone: 61 8 8179 9812 Facsimile: 61 8 8350 0080

September 12 Jason Hickson

Classy mare Princesa will use Saturday’s $60,000 Group 3 Blackwell Funerals Spring Stakes at Morphettville as a stepping-stone to the Melbourne spring carnival.

Trainer Greg Eurell said Saturday’s weight-for-age feature suited the mare’s preparation perfectly, while avoiding the tougher Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on the same day.

"This is a perfect race for her," Eurell said. "The Manikato is always an extremely tough race and, with Bel Esprit in the line-up carrying just 51kg, a lot of people think he’s just about unbeatable.

"The Spring Stakes will suit my mare much better. She’ll appreciate the big, open track at Morphettville and although it has also attracted a strong field, I think she’ll prove an excellent chance."

Princesa, formerly trained by Tony McEvoy before being transferred to Eurell, finished mid-field behind Crystal Finale first-up over 1100m at Caulfield a fortnight ago. But while she will strip trimmer for Saturday’s event, Eurell intends on testing her in previously unexplored territory this time in.

"I was a little disappointed with her first-up effort, but she wasn’t beaten far and did knock up," Eurell said. "She’s tightened up a lot since but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s looking for 1400m after this run. She’s never been tried beyond 1200m but I would hope she’ll make a sprinter/miler, and there’s plenty of options for mares at 1400m and 1600m over the spring carnival."

Princesa had just four runs last time in, winning her first two at Caulfield and Flemington respectively, before finishing a long-neck fourth to dead-heaters Windigo and Libidinious in the Group 3 Honda Stakes at Victoria Park.

She then returned to Melbourne to win the Listed Straight Six Handicap. Eurell resisted the temptation of running her in the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap with the spring in mind.

"She was borderline to make the field so, rather than wait around, we just kept to the game plan and sent her to the paddock," Eurell said. "As a result she’s had a decent break and will hopefully go on in the next couple of months."

Eurell will float the mare to Adelaide overnight (Thursday), and coming along for the ride is Adelaide Cup carnival star Brian Park.

Until May, Park had never ridden a Group winner but landed a feature double aboard Firetaine in the Group 3 Carlton Draught Stakes and on Troubles in the Group 2 Yallambee Classic at Morphettville.

He then finished off a dream Adelaide Cup carnival with his first Group 1 success aboard Zip Zip Aray in the Goodwood Handicap and a fourth - beaten just a neck - in the Group 1 Adelaide Cup, again on Firetaine.

"I had never ridden on the track before but I’d have to say now that Morphettville is my favourite," Park said. "I’m looking forward to riding there again on Saturday. I have never ridden Princesa on raceday but I did ride her in a trial at Ballarat with the specific intention of being aboard her for the Spring Stakes."

While most trainers expect Bel Esprit to prove the one to beat in Saturday’s Manikato Stakes, the Spring Stakes looks a little more open.

Among the entries are multiple Group 1 winner Umrum, last-start Liston Stakes winner Sports and promising Victorian sprinters Strategic Image, Sterling Knight and Dynamic Love.

Agincourt Express, formerly prepared by Gai Waterhouse, is having his first start for local trainer David Balfour while classy locals Romilada, Star Hit and Classic Status make up a strong field.

Meanwhile, trainer Tony McEvoy hopes to keep Saturday’s other feature - the $50,000 Listed Lindsay Park Guineas - "in the family".

The stable has won three of the last five runnings, including last years with Liberty Rose. This year the stable has four promising entries - Anacarde, Milanova, La Supreme and Lifelong Dream.

"It’s a very important race for the fillies because most of them get over a bit of ground for the first time and it gives them the opportunity for black-type status," McEvoy said. "Hopefully the stable can win another one.

"Anacarde was very disappointing last start and I’m at a loss to explain the run. Her previous run was excellent and I’ll be going on that. Milanova is a nice filly with superb breeding and comes into the race along a very similar path as Liberty Rose last year.

"La Supreme finished fourth at Morphettville last Saturday but I felt she should have won. Although she’s a maiden, had she won that race we would have had no hesitation running her in this. Lifelong Dream was another who was unlucky last start and although she’s up in class I think she’s good enough."

In other stable news, McEvoy will now target the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 12 with top-class sprinter North Boy. The gelding was to have run in Saturday’s Manikato Stakes but has a bruised heel.

Elegant Fashion broke out in a rash of boils after her disappointing run in last Saturday’s Group 2 Feehan Stakes. A decision on her next start will be made later this week.

Last Saturday’s Flemington winner Court Of Jewels will now be aimed at the Listed Emirates Airlines Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield later this month.

[ This Message was edited by: quapi on 2002-09-12 14:58 ]