Emerging talent The Princie One (NZ) (Savabeel) continued her rapid rise through the grades at Wingatui on Saturday, schooling her rivals in the KB Contracting (1200m).
The well-bred daughter of Savabeel commenced her career in the North Island with Mark Walker, finishing fourth in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a juvenile before joining Robert Dennis’ stable at Ascot Park.
The Princie One entered the winner’s circle for the first time last October, and when she finally struck a good track in mid-January, the mare made a serious impression winning at Rating 65 level by an extending six lengths.
Returning to Wingatui, she was favoured to repeat that effort in the hands of Tina Comignaghi, who had few options but to press forward early from an outside draw. Madam Dubai set up a strong tempo in front and was closely tracked by Full Moon Fever, the latter hitting the lead halfway down the straight before The Princie One came powering down the centre of the track to score comfortably by three lengths.
“She was very dominant once again, she won pretty comfortably and she’s a very progressive mare,” Dennis said.
“We did nominate for the Hazlett (Listed, 1400m) yesterday, but it ended up being quite strong and she didn’t even end up on the ballot. We certainly think she’ll get up over 1400 and even a mile.
“There is a 1400 in three weeks’ time at Wingatui, and three weeks following that, is the Breeders (Gr.3, 1600m) at Riccarton, so that may be the path that we head down.”
In nine starts, The Princie One has recorded three wins, four minor placings and $84,520 in stakes earnings for her breeders, the Dennis Brothers and Tony Rider.
Not to be outdone by her younger half-sister, The Radiant One put on a classy performance to finish second in the Listed Nellies Bar and Restaurant Hazlett Stakes (1400m). In the hands of Donovan Cooper, the mare travelled wide without cover throughout the feature contest and showed her class in the straight, holding on to the runner-up position behind a runaway winner in Harlech.
“It was a massive effort,” Dennis said. “She was drawn wide, raced three-wide without cover, made her move early and was in front at the top of the straight.
“She fought her guts out to hold second, she’s a high quality horse and has just taken a bit of racing to get to full fitness. She looks like she’s there now.
“We are thinking about backing her up on Saturday in the Open 1200, it’s at her home track and she looks to have come through the race well so far. She should be ready to rock and roll again.”
The victory added more valuable black-type to her record, having won the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) last season, alongside placings in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) and Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m).
The Radiant One and The Princie One are both out of the Dennis Brothers’ star race mare The Diamond One, a four-time Group Three winner and daughter of Group One winner The Jewel.