Princess Victoria to sparkle in swansong

The five-year-old mare will make the final appearance of her racing career at Kenilworth this afternoon in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m. The daughter of Victory Moon is retiring to the place of her birth – Maine Chance Farms.

It would be fitting for Princess Victoria to end her racing career on a winning note and looking at the form and facts, there appears to be little reason why that will not happen.

She has raced five times over 1200m for three wins and a place. Her lone unplaced performance came in last year’s Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville where she was sent off a well-backed 9-10 favourite but could only manage to finish seventh, 4.50 lengths behind Ebony Flyer.

That run mystified trainer Glen Kotzen, who had her thoroughly checked out by a veterinary surgeon but nothing untoward was uncovered. A run earlier she had beaten Beach Beauty by 1.50 lengths in the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Clairwood. And in the two runs following that Scottsville defeat, Princess Victoria won the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1450m at Clairwood and the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes at Greyville, where she beat Ebony Flyer by 0.50 lengths.

Her last outing over 1200m was in this year’s SA Fillies Sprint and despite returning from injury after six months, Princess Victoria finished a 3.50-length third behind top filly Via Africa. One length in front of her was KRA Guineas winner Festival Of Fire while behind her were All Is Secret, Welwitschia and Espumanti.

She will meet nothing of that calibre in this field and the only reason her rivals are close to her on handicap is because in her last two runs, the Tibouchina Stakes and the Garden Province Stakes, her merit rating has dropped from 111 to 105. Despite that, she is at least 2.5kg better handicapped than any of her rivals. Andrew Fortune renews his acquaintance with the mare.

Although 8.5kg under sufferance with “The Princess”, Fairyinthewoods could be her main danger. Owner Hassen Adams seems to have a procured another decent horse with this daughter Count Dubois. Trained by Darryl Hodgson, the four-year-old filly has reeled off four successive victories, all over the course and distance.

She is the kind of runner who just gets up in the final 50m and one does not have any idea as to how much is left in the tank. She could be anything and deserves respect. Also in her favour is that she has won in soft going and with Wednesday’s Durbanville meeting being called off, the only thing that could ruin Princess Victoria’s swansong is the weather.

The Grade 3 Final Fling Stakes over 1800m is the other feature race on the card. It is a lot more open but Cash Register, who won this race last year, seems to be coming to form at the right time. She had a break from February to June and in her most recent start, her second after the layoff, she ran on late to finish a 0.70-length fifth behind Jet Lady, despite racing wide on the turn. She is beautifully positioned at barrier No 4 and could give Kotzen and Fortune a feature-race double.

Schism is in good form, having won her last two starts, and with a win in the Grade 3 Winter Oaks over 2200m on record, is certain to see out the trip. She has improved markedly since blinkers were added to her equipment and should provide jockey Glen Hatt with a competitive ride.

Grant van Niekerk will be looking to have his first feature-race victory since being named No 1 jockey for the Mike Bass yard. He will be aboard Gypsy Madonna, who is course-and-distance suited.