By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
The grand old campaigner that is Sioux Princess has been retired, after 162 starts.
The eight-year-old daughter of Majestic Son had 18 wins between 2018 and 2023, bankrolling $209,823.
“She certainly was a great horse for me, she made a big difference to my bank account” says trainer Mark Jones, “and everybody loved her. She fronted up every week.”
“Everyone wants a horse like her in their stable.”
Such was Sioux Princess’ durability that she raced 51 times in 2022, after 49 starts in 2021.
“Not many can race as much as she did and hold her condition.”
“She was a great horse for the industry because she helped get a lot of races off the ground that may struggle, she’d race against the open class horses and be competitive,” says Jones, “and she was a very fast trotter too.”
Jones has trained her for all but one of her 162 starts, after Lawrence McCormick trained and drove her to victory on debut. She paid $29.20 on that day in May 2018.
There was not a season since her debut when she didn’t win at least one race, with her last victory being at Addington in February this year,
Manners were often an issue for her and that was the case right from the start.
“She was real headache for about two years ..if it wasn’t for my staff I probably would have sacked her!”
But perseverance brought rewards, though in recent times she has had some problems with her stifles.
“She’s never been sore but it has been an ongoing thing for the last two-three years.”
So now the next stage of her life beckons.
“She’ll join my broodmare band and go to Tactical Landing or Creatine.”
“She’ll be a lovely broodmare and a good mother.”
