15 January 2010
Unbeaten sprinting sensation Wealth Princess will bypass the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and instead head towards a start in the $1 million Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham later in the month.
Wealth Princess Aiming For Telegraph
Te Awamutu trainer Brent Gillovic said the mare was a “bit scratchy” after her stylish Listed race win in the Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
“She was scratchy after pulling up after the Newmarket and then sore the next morning,” Gillovic said.
“Had this soreness not occurred after the Newmarket it would have been very tempting to have run her in the Railway as otherwise she looked like she hadn’t had a run,” he said.
“However, she is clearly an outstanding mare and has her whole career in front of her so there is no need to panic,” Gillovic said.
“I am mindful she might not make the Telegraph field but we will aim her for that event and keep our fingers crossed that she does,” he said.
“She is truly something special, the kind of galloper who comes along once in a very long time,” Gillovic said.
Wealth Princess made it five wins from as many starts with her comfortable success in the Newmarket Handicap in which she covered her final 600m in a sizzling time of 33.2 seconds.
She once more missed the start and had to loop the field nearing the home turn before cruising away to win easily by 1-1/4 lengths from Jazzella and Attackum.
Jockey David Walsh said Wealth Princess is in the class of the best sprinters he has ridden during his long career in the saddle.
"The best sprinters I've ridden were Tanalyse and Courier Bay, both of which could pick up good horses in a couple of strides, and she could be up there with them," he said.
"She does things so easily. She feels like she's travelling 13 seconds to the furlong (200m) when she's actually going 11-1/2 seconds."
Walsh said Wealth Princess got a little anxious in the starting gates, hence her tardy start.
"But once I got to the 800m I thought this was going to be easy. At the 600 I still had a handful of horse."
