Popstar Princess on song with ‘own rhythm’
A gun front-running ride by Jonathan Riddell and the pugnacious nature of Popstar Princess saw a memorable win in the $50,000 Tauranga Classic (1400m) yesterday.
The Fred and Lindsay Cornege-trained Makfi mare ($6.50) was back to her brilliant best as she defied race favourite Supreme Heights and a host of talented female rivals to run her down after doing all the donkey work in front on the heavy 11 surface.
Riddell judged things to a nicety as he set a steady speed in front, courtesy of an unopposed lead. It was obvious with 600m to run that the only danger was Supreme Heights, who had tracked the pacemaker throughout, but she couldn’t reel in Popstar Princess, who sailed away to a two-length victory.
Pukekohe visitor Sweet Clementine made up good ground to take third, however all honours lay with the winner who recorded her 10th victory from 39 starts and took her stakes’ earnings over $270,000.
Cambridge-based Fred Cornege said he was confident of a top performance, despite the mare running last at her most recent run at Ellerslie, where she lumped top weight and also suffered significant interference.
‘‘I’m always confident but never cocky,’’ he said.
‘‘What I enjoy is upsetting the experts and most didn’t have her as the winner today.
‘‘I think they looked at her last start and the fact she was up against Supreme Heights and dismissed her.
‘‘We knew we were in for a good scrap, but it pays to put a line through that Ellerslie run as she has never really gone any good there.
‘‘She just loves to get into her own rhythm and do things her way. At Ellerslie it is quite an undulating surface and that seems to trip her up.
‘‘She got her own way today and it was just a lovely ride by Jonathan.’’
Raced under lease by the Corneges, along with Pat and Sue Calnan, Popstar Princess is likely to have one or two more starts this season.
Star Kiwi 3yo harness pacer Krug won his Australian debut at Redcliffe last night, racing clear after being wide and working hard to lead for Anthony Butt.