Wealth abounds for this smart Princess

Brent Gillovic was spurred to consider the Gr I Railway Stakes for smart four-year-old mare Wealth Princess after she kept her unbeaten record with a hollow win at Te Rapa last Saturday.

Stepping up to Rating 80 company for her first time, Wealth Princess treated her rivals with contempt, winning as she liked for rider David Walsh, who was as effusive with his praise of the San Luis mare as her Te Awamutu trainer was.

''She's improved a whole heap since last time but she's got a whole heap of improvement still to go. She's smart, really smart,'' Walsh said.

Gillovic said Wealth Princess could have her next start in the Listed Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on November 27.

''That was the event we thought she could go to if she won today,'' he said afterwards.

''I thought she was up to running in a stakes race and that's why we came here to get a good track and a good line on how she's going.
''I did think she was good enough to beat them again today. She is very good. Who knows she could be a Railway horse.''

Wealth Princess is raced by Chinese businessman Victor Chai, whom Gillovic said was keen to keep his mare in New Zealand to race.

Meanwhile, John Sargent will give Shi Kin Fly time to recover from her win at Te Rapa before he decides on whether she tackles the Gr II Counties Cup next start.

But the Matamata trainer was quick to confirm her for the Gr II Avondale and Waikato Cups for her second and third starts this preparation.

Runner-up in this year's New Zealand St Leger, Shi Kin Fly showed her class with a dashing win at Te Rapa, closing off late to score by half a length in the $13,000 Risk Managament Group 1600.
''She'll go to the Cups races,'' Sargent said.

''Whether the Counties Cup is too soon, we'll decide after I've seen how she pulls up after this week. She's a lot stronger this year so hopefully this could be her time.''

Ski Kin Fly marked the return to the winner's circle of Matamata jockey Michael Coleman, who had spent 10 weeks on the sidelines recovering from a ruptured thigh muscle suffered from a fall in the Gr I Mudgway Stakes at Hastings at the end of August.

''I'm quite surprised how much it's improved since I've been back riding trackwork. The lungs are burning a bit but I feel pretty good,'' he said.

On Shi Kin Fly, Coleman said: ''She's a lovely mare, a lovely staying type and she's given me a lovely trip.''

- © Fairfax NZ News