Pine Princess storms through the centre to win a cracker – that is third placed Mohave Princess on the rail (JC Photos)
Captain Al’s smart daughter Pine Princess showed great character and courage first time under the Turffontein lights on Tuesday when she cracked a somewhat fortunate nod in the final stride to win the R250 000 Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap in a thriller. It was a first stakes win for the Highlands Farms bred galloper and she looks to have a very bright future ahead of her.
Pine Princess had enjoyed a rewarding 2yo campaign in KZN, where her six runs had yielded three wins (including the NBT King’s Pact Stakes) as well as Listed and Gr1 placed efforts.
On Tuesday evening she faced a stiff task as a 3yo but came out like a professional for her first stakes win – even if trainer Mike De Kock suggested rather modestly that she probably got a little lucky that her major opposition were burdened by being drawn out in the sticks.
Pine Princess jumped as 17 to 10 favourite in the 1800m contest and Delpech had her 3 lengths behind in fourth place as Amber Orchid and Mohave Princess led Rodeo Sioux.
The Australian-bred Mohave Princess came through powerfully at the 300m and stuck to the inside rail as Pine Princess geared up with Erin unleashing a powerful late effort down the outside.
The three ran abreast to the line as Pine Princess put her head down with a neck separating them.
Anthony Delpech – a good evening
Pine Princess got the verdict on a photo by a nose in a time of 110,12 secs.
Erin, under replacement rider Juan Paul van der Merwe jumped from a 17 draw and did superbly well as she charged through from lengths back late in the race- her next winning turn cannot be far off.
Mohave Princess was always in the vanguard and she stayed on for third a further nose away, with Amber Orchid improving again at 100 to 1 into fourth.
Joburg Spring Challenge winner Supreme Sunset never sparked and ran 7,75 lengths behind. She may have got very lucky to win that feature.
The winner’s once promising stablemate Square Dance was probably the biggest disappointment of the race, running stone last.
Delpech said afterwards that Pine Princess was looking around and jumped a patch late- he felt that she needed further and could only improve.
Mike De Kock confirmed that Pine Princess was going to improve further and that it was a gutsy win given the factors against her. He was cautious about how far she would stay.
De Kock said that he was in a fortunate position to have a ‘nice bunch’ of 3yo fillies and was not sure where Pine Princess would be headed next. The Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas looks a possibility.
Pine Princess, who races for a partnership in the Maine Chance Farms silks, was bred by Highlands and is by Captain Al, out of the four time winning Badger Land mare, Scent Of Pine.
She was sold for R400 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
She has now won 4 races with 2 places from 7 starts and took her stake earnings to R420 125.
Delpech and De Kock enjoyed a good evening with the exciting Alboran Sea returning to action with a scintillating sprint win that confirms her potential as yet another serious prospect.
