The Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20 is the Winter Carnival goal for Estonian Princess who resumes for new trainer Gerald Ryan at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Estonian Princess will be having her first start for trainer Gerald Ryan in the Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast. Photo by Martin King.
Estonian Princess was spelled after finishing fourth in the Group 2 $175,000 Inglis Villiers (1600m) at Randwick during the Sydney Summer Carnival when under the care of Warwick Farm trainer Scott Aspery.
Ryan has selected the Listed $150,000 Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast to kick off the Snitzel mare’s Winter campaign which will hopefully lead to a start in the Tattersall’s Tiara at the end of the Carnival.
The top Rosehill trainer has given Estonian Princess two barrier trials in preparation for her return to the racetrack and has been happy with her progress.
“I’ve seen a lot of her and when Rosemount bought sixty per cent of her this preparation she was transferred to me and what I’ve seen of her I like,” Ryan told the Sportsman.
“She’s a good looking mare, not a lot of height, but she’s nice and strong.”
“She’s settled down a lot and seems to be going good, her two trials were quite satisfactory abd she has done well since.”
“Whatever she does on Saturday she’ll definitely improve off.”
“It’s just whether the 1200m around (the Gold Coast) is far enough for her.”
Estonian Princess was handed the visitor’s draw and will jump from gate fourteen in the sixteen horse field with Brenton Avdulla to take the ride again.
“Barrier fourteen makes it a bit harder but as long they run along a bit up front, it will help her and she did finish second to Sweet Idea in the Magic Millions three-year-old race up here,” Ryan said.
Avdulla is no stranger to Estonian Princes and was aboard over the Sydney Summer Carnival when the mare ran second in the Listed $100,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and fourth in the Villiers.
He has also recorded a win on Estonian Princess when she took out the Group 3 $150,000 Bacardi Untimeable J H B Carr Stakes (1400m) at Randwick twelve months ago.
Estonian Princess is on the third line of betting for the Silk Stocking at $8 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind I’ve Got The Looks at $2.50 and Diamond Fund and Espiritu both at $6.
I’ve Got The Looks is well fancied following her two recent barrier trial wins at Rosehill and Randwick while Espiritu finished second in 1010m Murwillumbah barrier trial on April 16 following a freshen up since recording back to back wins at Doomben in January and February.
