Ducks all in a row for Princess Amelie and Lisa in the Stewards on Wednesday
By Barry Lichter • 11 November 2020
Even the weather gods have smiled on trainer Lisa Latta as she prepares Princess Amelie for Wednesday’s $100,000 Stewards Stakes at Riccarton.
The one-time premiership winner has endured a lean run in the first three months of the season, training just four winners.
But all the bad tracks, injuries, wide draws and disappointing performances can be offset if Princess Amelie can earn some valuable black type in the Group III sprint feature.
And, touch wood, everything looks made to order for the mare who has a perfect two draw, a top jockey in Danielle Johnson and a nice light weight of 53kg.
But, best of all, Princess Amelie should get her favourite track conditions when she tackles last Saturday’s Pegasus principals Wekaforce and the unlucky Sensei.
The mare is very picky over when she puts in her best, neither firm ground nor footing that’s too wet suits her.
“She doesn’t handle good 3 footing,” says Latta. “Her legs go everywhere. And while she has won in heavy 11 footing, she’s definitely better when it’s dead to slow.”
The track reading this morning was a slow 7 but Latta expects drying winds to bring that back to a dead 5 or dead 6.
“That would be perfect for her.”
Latta set Princess Amelie for the Stewards right at the start of her prep, after she ran such a bold third in the race last year behind Sheezallmine and Sensei on dead 5 ground.
“After that trip down here she’s done a treat this time, hasn’t left an oat, so I’m expecting a big run from her.”
Classy mare Princess Amelie has everything in her favour on Wednesday at Riccarton.Princess Amelie brought two heavy track wins with her when she tackled last year’s race and, while her two prep runs this time haven’t been so dominant, Latta is happy with her condition.
“She didn’t have all favours last time (when fourth at Trentham). She got into an awkward spot but made up good ground and finished alongside Mascarpone.”
In finishing fourth, Princess Amelie was just a neck, one and a half lengths and a short head behind the in-form Deerfield, Chosen Peak and Mascarpone, who went on to win a Listed race at Te Rapa at his next start.
Now five, another black type performance would significantly boost the value of the well bred Snitzel mare who has a tidy record of five wins from only 17 starts.
TAB bookies have her a $6.50 third favourite.
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Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”
Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”