First Stakes Win for Dark Princess

Media Release - Saturday October 27

Progressive mare Dark Princess continued her rise up the ranks with her first victory at stakes level when successful in Saturday's Group III Gee & Hickton Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.

Dark Princess - Race ImagesThe Cape Blanco five-year-old caught the eye with a barnstorming finish to win at Hastings over the same distance at her last start.

That convinced punters to send her out as a $5.30 favourite in Saturday's contest where she dashed clear over the final 100m in the hands of Lisa Allpress to down gallant topweight Dolcetto with former Australian galloper Raw Impulse closing off nicely to snatch third.

"She's still a work in progress but she's got a touch of class about her," trainer Jeff Lynds said.

"The little bit of rain on the track helped her but we did think she was up to the class now that she has fully matured.

"As long as she comes through this run well we will be able to look at some more ambitious targets but at this stage I don't really have a firm plan."

Earlier in the day the Stephen Marsh trained first starter Exuberant made a winning debut with a gritty victory in the Listed Hanley Formula Wellesley Stakes (1000m).

Sporting the familiar colours of syndication specialist, Go Racing, the Savabeel colt was a $160,000 purchase by Albert Bosma from the Book 1 draft of Waikato Stud at the National Yearling Sale earlier in the year.

Advertisement

A stylish win at the Ruakaka trials earlier in the month had the showy youngster regarded as a leading chance in the two-year-old feature and he didn't disappoint when he prevailed in a thrilling finish with fellow Cambridge raider Last Sight.

"To do that at your first start, to come to a Listed race and take it out shows he is a pretty classy animal," Marsh stable representative Todd Pollard said.

"They are fantastic, Albert and the team, they do a great job and we've had quite a few nice ones for them so it's great to have them in the stable.

"He's a gorgeous horse, not overly big but he looks like he could be quite a classy customer."

Exuberant is the second foal of ill-fated O'Reilly mare Merrily and hails from a family that includes the brilliant Black Caviar in his extended pedigree. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.