Group Two Trifecta for Encosta

23rd February 2008

Encosta de Lago claimed a rare achievement at Caulfield on Saturday when he provided the trifecta in the Group Two MRC St George Stakes over 1800 metres with star Kiwi trained mare Princess Coup defeating spring Group One winner Sirmione by half a length with tough stayer Douro Valley filling third.

All three placegetters are entered for the upcoming Group One VRC Australian Cup over 2000 metres, so the form lines from this prestigious lead up race could well carry on to the main event.

Princess Coup (4m Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road, by Sovereign Red) enjoyed a perfect run for Damien Oliver, surging to take the lead with a furlong to run and then holding out Sirmione to take her overall record to 10 wins and seven placings from 25 starts with earnings of $1,955,252.

“Ollie worked her at Moonee Valley during the week and the reports from that were encouraging so we were expecting a big run,” said winning trainer Mark Walker.

“She didn’t have long off after the Melbourne Cup so she was very forward for today and will go on to the Australian Cup, but after that we’ll let the dust settle before making any plans that might involve Sydney.”

The dominant three year-old filly in New Zealand last season, Princess Coup is a seasoned Group One performer having won the NZ Oaks by four and a half lengths and then the $1million Group One Kelt Capital Stakes last spring.

Bred in Australia by Mark Kelly's Ingenue Breeding Syndicate and good friend Brenton Wise, Princess Coup was raised at Mill Park Stud in South Australia before heading to the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, where she was purchased by David Ellis for $260,000 from the draft of Ernivale Thoroughbreds as agent.

Racing in the ownership of John Bromley and Ray Coupland, Princess Coup is the fourth foal of the stakes-winning Sovereign Red mare Stoneyfell Road (who died prematurely), whose dam Arch Duchess was a Group Three winning sprinter by speed influence Arch Sculptor.

Princess Coup is the eighth Australian stakes-winner this season for Encosta de Lago who is closing in on Zabeel for the title of champion sire.

Encosta de Lago has some outstanding yearlings coming through for 2008 with nine to be offered at Inglis Premier, 40 for Magic Millions and over 60 for Inglis Easter.