Princess to pay tribute to Drew at Caulfield

Brad Waters - Tuesday August 29

Princess Of Queens could provide an emotional post-script to a sad occurrence if she can notch a win at Caulfield on Saturday.

Advertisement
Admired sports broadcaster Drew Morphett passed away last weekend. Photo: ABC

Karen and Drew Morphett are listed in the ownership of the mare, who will compete in the open mares' handicap (1400m) at Caulfield a week after the sudden passing of the latter, who was an outstanding sports broadcaster with the ABC and Channel 7 during a 40-year career.

The Morphetts are well known in racing through their spelling centre Cloverdale at Pakenham South with the operation including the Mick Price stable among many clients.

"I knew Drew through Kaz Morphett, who I have dealt with for over 20 years," Price said.

Princess Of Queens is a lightly-raced four-year-old mare with 10 starts to her name but the daughter of Magnus has posted a pair of city wins in a record that includes a last-start Sandown victory.

The win was in Benchmark 70 company but both the mare's performance and the ride of apprentice Chris Caserta impressed Price enough to warrant a test in open mares' grade on Saturday.

"I thought it was a good win and the kid rode her really well so I'll keep Chris Caserta on," Price said.

"He'll claim three (kilograms) and she just needs to draw a gate and have a bit of luck."

Price also nominated Princess Of Queens for a race in Adelaide on Saturday but decided that assignment would not suit the half-sister to Group III winner Prince Of Brooklyn.

The Caulfield trainer has also entered the promising Heavenly Descent for the mares' handicap in which she is set to resume after winning the last three runs of her previous campaign.

"She had a little injury in behind in her joint and had three months off and is coming back for the mile races," Price said.

"She has strengthened and is in good order. She is working like she wants a mile.

"If she's good enough, she's by Snitzel so she has got a little pedigree, if she can get some black type, that's what we would be aiming for to increase her value."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Navy King sails to Valley victory
A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.