Proisir Winning Roll Continues - Prowess Wins G2 Fillies Classic

Media Release - Saturday February 11

Prowess, who stared the hottest favourite of the day at Te Rapa on Saturday, justified her $1.20 quote when she gave her three-year-old counterparts a complete shellacking in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).

The last start winner of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), where she defeated horses of the calibre of Wild Night and Legarto, was expected to comfortably account for her rivals despite stepping over 2000m for the first time.

Warren Kennedy is all business as he urges Prowess to victory at Te Rapa Photo: Trish Dunell

In a display of pure class, the daughter of Proisir sat handy to a steady tempo for rider Warren Kennedy before unleashing her powerful sprint finish in the run home to run out a convincing five length winner from pacemaker Sakura Girl and stablemate Contagious, who had sat outside the leader from the 1200m mark.

In what was no more than a training gallop, Prowess indicated she is right on track for her next assignment which could be the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa on March 4.

Co-trainer Robert Wellwood, who prepares the filly in partnership with Roger James, was well satisfied with the performance.

“It was very good as she got on the nickel a little more than she has in the past, but at the end of the day she has put then away easily,” he said.

“Hopefully we can now make some firm decisions on where we go in the future.”

Prowess holds nominations for three upcoming Group One age-group features including the Derby, the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) with Wellwood hesitant to single out just which race she would tackle.

“We will have to speak to Warren, but the Derby is the obvious option as long as she is going to see out a mile and a half,” Wellwood said.

“There are some other great opportunities coming up for fillies and mares over a mile to 2000m, both here and over in Aussie.

Advertisement

“Wherever she goes it will be exciting,”

For his part Kennedy couldn’t have been more impressed with how the winner performed.

“She actually feels like she has gone up a gear,” Kennedy said.

“She is just getting better and better and handled the 2000m as we expected.

“We got over from the wide gate (9) which was Plan A, so I was happy to be one out watching the pace and she powered home when I asked her.

“She is something special and she did it effortlessly today.”

Prowess as a yearling

James and Wellwood went to $230,000 to purchase the filly out of Hallmark Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft.

Out of the Don Eduardo mare Donna Marie, Prowess is a half-sister to stakes placed Ajay Tee and has never been unplaced in seven starts having won five of those for stakes earnings in excess of $773,000. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Prowess Back on Track
After a couple of false starts, Group One winner Prowess had her first public hit-out the season in an exhibition gallop alongside stablemate Contemplation at Matamata on Wednesday.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Prowess Retired to Stud
Outstanding Group I winning mare Prowess has run her last race with Kingsclere Stables announcing the daughter of Proisir has been retired due to a degenerative hoof condition.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Proisir Mare Prowess Ready for G2 Crystal Mile
Pre-race indicators all point to another high-class performance from Prowess in her delayed introduction to the Melbourne spring carnival.
Star Kiwi Mare Prowess on Target for G1 Champions Stakes
Roger James believes he has ticked all the boxes with his multiple Group One winner Prowess ahead of the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.