A mile of risk for Princess

ASTUTE analyst Jamie Lovett confesses he has reservations about his mare Princess Posh running out 1600m in today’s Tattersall’s Mile at Doomben.

Princess Posh is in a battle for favouritism with No Annamossity after the pair both won 1350m races at Doomben a fortnight ago.

Lovett is a co- director of Australian Bloodstock with Luke Murrell and, the pair have gained a reputation for giving brutally frank assessments of their own horses and others during a prolonged run of success at the highest level.

This is the first time trainer Kris Lees has tested Princess Posh beyond 1550m, with the camp deciding to roll the dice in a bid to secure some black type in today’s Listed feature.

“I must confess, I’ve never had her as a miler,” Lovett said. “I hope I’m wrong. “With this race there you have to have a throw at the stumps. She’s a mare in form and any black type would be so valuable for her.

“If she can get a suck run up behind them without having to chase too far out, that would be the best case scenario for her.

“You just don’t know until you try them, but I will be holding my breath at the furlong.”

Lovett isn’t the only stable with reservations about a leading contender today.

Religify comes into the race having had just one start in 267 days, where he was down the track in last month’s Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich. He returned to Sydney after that race, before being sent north again.

Religify has a two- start unblemished record over the Doomben mile, but Chris Waller’s Queensland stable manager Paul Shailer fears he may face a task today.

“Wet tracks haven’t helped his preparation and given he hasn’t raced for 35 days, it’s fair to say it’s a bit of a task for him with 61kg,” Shailer said.