Peachester Lodge Celebrate Princess Rhaenys Victory

Media Release - Saturday June 8

Well-related mare Princess Rhaenys has overcome a wide run to score the fifth victory of her career when landing the Mittys Benchmark 90 Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Tony Gollan-trained six-year-old was sent out a well-supported $2.90 favourite with James McDonald in the saddle.

Sporting the colours of Linda and Graham Huddy’s Peachester Lodge, connections would have been anxious throughout as the mare travelled three-wide throughout, yet still dug deep to defeat Brookhaven by just over half a length at the line.

Princess Rhaenys overcame a wide run to score her fifth career victory. Photo: Grant Peters

A multiple stakes-performer, including a Group Three placing in the Pam O’Neill Stakes (1600m), Princess Rhaenys will now get another black-type opportunity when she contests the Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm on June 29.

“She got caught in an awkward spot and you could see that after they went a couple of hundred metres she wasn’t going to get in, so James just had to take his medicine,” Gollan said.

“He was able to get her in a good rhythm and that is what we spoke before the race.

“She’s got to relax and get breathing, and give herself a chance to really finish these trips off. We know she’s good over this distance and even further. He would’ve preferred not to be covering that much ground, but in the end it didn’t matter because she was the strongest stayer.

Advertisement

“It’s good to get that run under our belt. I spoke to Mrs Huddy at the start of the week about going in this race or the mares race later (Magic Millions National Classic, 1600m) and she was in beautifully in benchmark grade.

“The 1800m really sets us up well for the Tatts Gold over 2100 metres on Tatts Tiara Day. She was narrowly beaten in the race last year. She has had a faultless preparation until now and I think she’ll be the mare to beat in three weeks’ time.”

Winning jockey James McDonald is confident Princess Rhaenys, a full sister to Derby hero Jon Snow, will relish getting over further.

“She was in a comfortable rhythm even though we were trapped wide, so I didn’t want to take her out of it,” McDonald said. “Fortunately we were able to get a bit of cover from the 700m to the 400m, and she showed a good turn of foot at the end.

“At least we know she’ll run 2000m-plus, because she probably ran it today!”

By Iffraaj out of the O’Reilly mare Orinda, Princess Rhaenys was bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club at Highview Stud. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Mittys (Bm90) 1810m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:49.14
1
Princess Rhaenys
- 6m Iffraaj (GB) x Orinda (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
2
0.7
Brookhaven
- 4g Spieth (NZ) x Lightens (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Damien Thornton 54.5
3
2.6
Age Of Sail
- 5g Frankel (GB) x Concordia (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Craig Williams 54.5
4
3.6
Evocator
- 5g Divine Prophet (AUS) x Stars In Her Eyes (NZ) (Jetball (AUS))
Tnr: B J Lockwood Rdr: R Dolan 54
5
3.8
Sneak Preview
- 8g Smart Missile (AUS) x Stage Performer (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: Cejay Graham 59
6
4.2
Sunset Soiree
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Soiree (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Angela Jones 52.5
7
4.3
Nikau Spur
- 7g Proisir (AUS) x Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: Corey & Kylie Geran Rdr: A Mallyon 58.5
8
4.6
Warp Speed
- 7g Star Witness (AUS) x Prized Gem (NZ) (Prized (USA))
Tnr: M W Goodwin Rdr: M Cahill 58
9
5.6
Wapiti
- 7g Love Conquers All (AUS) x Lucky Dubai (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: G R Duncan Rdr: Ms N Beriman 60
10
6.1
Linthorpe Lad
- 6g Mahisara (AUS) x Rocklet (AUS) (Easy Rocking (AUS))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: Melea Castle 53
11
8.2
Thought Of That
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Hold Me Closer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Lauren Abbott Rdr: Ms G Cartwright 54.5
12
10.8
Avenue Of Stars
- 6g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Casino Lass (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: Jonny Field Rdr: Anthony Allen 58.5
13
27
Military Gambler
- 5g Rommel (AUS) x Call To Ransom (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Jake Bayliss 58
More Reading...
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Peachester Lodge Celebrate Stakes Success for Princess Rhaenys
In-form mare Princess Rhaenys scored a narrow victory in the Listed Tattersall's Gold Crown (2143m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the well-related daughter of Iffraaj scored a richly-deserved maiden stakes success.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.