More Group One Glory for Princess Coup

20th September 2008

Outstanding mare Princess Coup (5m Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road, by Sovereign Red) burst back to top form with a barnstorming finish to win the Group One Stoney Bridge Stakes over 1600 metres at Hastings in New Zealand on Saturday.

The athletic chestnut powered straight past AJC Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu (4h Montjeu x Prized Gem, by Prized) to score by more than a length with last start Group One winner Fritzy Boy in third place.

Trained by Mark Walker, Princess Coup has the impressive record of 11 wins and 10 placings from 30 starts and prizemoney of $2.7 million, her immediate goals the $1million Kelt Capital and a possible tilt at the Cox Plate.

“We would want to win the Kelt well to warrant a trip to the Cox Plate. She has been suffering a wee bit of wear and tear, but the Kelt is the main aim and we have got here on the smell of an oily rag. She led off a pony early in the week and only trot and cantered on Thursday,” said Walker.

The dominant three year-old filly of her generation in New Zealand, Princess Coup has trained on as an older mare in great style winning the $1million Group One Kelt Capital Stakes last spring before racing with success over here in Australia.

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 first Group One winner of the new season in Australasia for reigning champion sire Encosta de Lago.