Lisa trying Princess without blinkers and fancies her chances with big drop in class

Trainer Lisa Latta is hoping that a beautiful drying day in Wellington today will present Princess Amelie with exactly the kind of track she needs to return to form.

With the Snitzel mare it’s all about the conditions - too wet and she gets bogged down and too firm and she feels the ground.

The Trentham track report this morning was a slow 8, in from Thursday’s heavy 10, and Latta is hoping it could end up on the better side of slow, with only 2ml of rain predicted on Saturday morning.

Latta is loathed to solely blame the ground at Riccarton last time when Princess Amelie, sent out fourth favourite for the Stewards, ran a surprise last.

While rider Danielle Johnson reported she wasn’t entirely comfortable in the slow 7 conditions - she was in the worst of the ground against the fence - Latta suspects she may also have been unhappy in tight quarters.

In the third race on Saturday, drawn six of seven, she should get all the room she needs, says Latta.

Princess Amelie will also race without blinkers.

“I’m a bit worried about doing that because she’s a very laid back mare who has gone her best races in blinkers. But we need to try something to turn her average form around.

“I’m also using a tongue tie in case she’s been holding her breath.”

Latta believes Princess Amelie will be hard to beat, however, mostly because of the big drop in class.

She has tackled open class in both her last two runs, finishing fourth behind Deerfield, Chosen Peak and Mascarpone at Trentham on October 25.

On Saturday she drops to rating 74 company and Latta is using apprentice Sam O’Malley to reduce her weight to 58kg. That means, after taking into account apprentice allowances, she meets race favourite Chosen Peak ($3.80) on 2.5kg better terms.

Princess Amelie ($7.50), a past winner at Trentham, has yet to carry as much as 58kg to win (the highest she has managed was 56.5kg) but Latta is confident she can handle it.

Jonathan Riddell brings Lincoln Star back after his win at Otaki on December 5. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Lincoln Farms sponsored race

Latta has a two pronged assault for Lincoln Farms in the race it sponsors, the seventh event over 1600 metres, and likes Lincoln Star over Father Lenihan.

Lincoln Star brings a consistent 313 form line with him, has drawn beautifully in two, and has the services of the in-form Vinnie Colgan.

A winner on slow 9 footing at Otaki, he ran solid third behind Fabulous Flight at Waverley last time on dead 4 ground, looming right into it soon after turning for home.

“He has trained on really well, it will be his sort of track - dead to slow - and he should get a nice soft run.”

Latta fears Father Lenihan’s loss of form is down to the big weights he has had to carry in his recent starts in rating 74 company.

“We may have to run him out of his class to get him some relief. I won’t start him with 60kg if it rains.”

Latta is hoping the roomy track helps and reports the horse has been training very well.

Platinum Spirit likes the big, roomy Trentham track. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Big ask fresh-up

So too has Platinum Spirit (race 6) but Latta says it’s a big ask expecting him to win first-up over 2200 metres after a nine month break.

Platinum Spirit, who has not run since finishing 10th in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March, is nevertheless a clean winded horse and Latta has given him three jumpouts and trials to prepare for the race.

She says the big, roomy track suits Platinum Spirit - he cleared maidens at Trentham and also ran third in the Summer Cup (2400m) there last January.

“He is coming up really well and looks fantastic. He holds a nomination for the Wellington Cup so obviously I am keen to get him straight up over ground.

“There are some really nice options for him over Christmas and New Year to get him ready for the Wellington Cup and we will need some points to get in.

“While he doesn’t mind a cut in the track I am hoping the rain will hold off so that we can get him kicked off.”