Trainer Dean Kannemeyer and jockey Anthony Delpech continued their SA Champions Season glory march when Khaya Stables’ exciting Trippi filly Real Princess scored her first Gr1 victory, storming clear to win the R600 000 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint at Scottsville on Saturday.
Anthony Delpech steers Real Princess to an easy win
The power combination have enjoyed a feature purple patch and Real Princess put the cherry on top of a glorious eight weeks with a prized Gr1 credit that confirmed her recent rise to prominence in the fairer sex sprinting ranks.
The Khaya Stables owned Real Princess faced stiff opposition from some of the country’s leading speed fillies at weight for age – but the beautiful chestnut proved more than equal to the task, skipping clear in the final 300m to win as she liked.
Anthony Delpech – was on the superior filly
Despite the midweek warning of a potential virus alert at home base, the money came for SA champion trainer Sean Tarry’s dazzling Gr1 speedster Carry On Alice and the daughter of Captain Al went off a hot order at 7-10 to beat her nine rivals.
But it was not to be her day as she never recovered from an unenthusiastic jump to run a rare bad race, finishing fifth and just over 2 lengths back.
On the other hand, Real Princess was relaxed in midfield as Fly By Night went quickly and when the brimming-with-confidence Anthony Delpech gave her the office, she stretched clear to win by 1,25 lengths in a time of 68 secs.
Fly By Night, who started at 25-1 and was the lesser fancied of the Mike Bass duo, stayed on best for second, a quarter length in front of Camellia Stakes winner, Joan Ranger – who is proving to be a consistent earner.
Lanner Falcon was a half length away in fourth and a head in front of the exotic blowout, Carry On Alice.
Dean Kannemeyer – assessment was spot on
Fellow Joburg visitor Lazer Star ran her second below-par race for her new yard, finishing 7,05 lengths off the winner in a disappointing performance.
The win was a particularly satisfying one for trainer Dean Kannemeyer who has rated Real Princess a Gr1 winning prospect from day one.
The stable initially felt that she would go a mile but her win on Saturday proved that she is an accomplished sprinter – whatever her breeding or relaxed racing style may suggest.
Real Princess has now won 6 races with 6 places from 15 starts and took her stakes earnings to R883 025.
She provided her breeders Klawervlei Stud with a sparkling Gr1 feature double after Always In Charge had won the Gold Medallion earlier.
Real Princess is a daughter of Trippi out of the once winning Fort Wood mare, Pagan Princess.
She was no cheapie – going for R2,7 million on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
But she looks an increasingly exciting broodmare prospect for her owners – and has plenty of racing left in her.
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Gr1 Fillies Sprint (SAf-Gr1)
Scottsville, South Africa, June 4, R600k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.08.08
1 – REAL PRINCESS (SAF), 60.0, ch f 4, Trippi (USA) – Pagan Princess (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA). Owner Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd; Breeder Klawervlei Stud; trainer D Kannemeyer; jockey A Delpech
2 – Fly By Night (SAF), 60.0, b m 6, Jet Master (SAF) – Fly The Wind (SAF) by Model Man (SAF)
3 – Joan Ranger (SAF), 59.0, b f 3, Horse Chestnut (SAF) – Fashion Edition (SAF) by Rambo Dancer (USA)
Margins: 1.25, 0.25, 0.50
