Princess Victoria – Gr1 Golden Slipper

Princess Victoria-Won in royal style at Greyville on Saturday

Princess Victoria must have assured herself of the champion two-year-old filly award with a memorable success in the Durban Golden Slipper over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday, writes Matthew Lips.

Glen Kotzen’s rising star had quickened in devastating style when she won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship at Scottsville five weeks earlier and even a fairly deep draw couldn’t stop her from going off as the 6/10 favourite in the Golden Slipper.  Hidden Beauty had finished third in the Allan Robertson and was the 9/2 second favourite, with Allan Robertson second Up Front available at 10/1 and the others going off at ever longer prices.

Margherita Lotti set the pace at a decent clip and showed the way ahead of Tempted and ExtraMargherita Lotti set the pace at a decent clip and showed the way ahead of Tempted and Extra Zero, with Uptothemoon and Hidden Beauty next in line.  Princess Victoria came across to follow this leading quintet and looked to be travelling comfortably as Margherita Lotti brought them into the straight.

Princess Victoria soon began to make up ground quickly wider out, coming through to lead inside the final 300m and kicking into a healthy lead of some two or three lengths.  The red-hot favourite had the race safely won a long way out, and Andrew Fortune could indulge in the luxury of standing up in the irons and saluting the crowd several strides before the finishing line.  The Stipendiary stewards frown on this sort of thing, and rightly so, but one has to admit that it adds some flavour to proceedings and it was a victory celebration that won’t be forgotten for a long time to come.

Princess Victoria eventually won by 1.25 lengths, but it could have been more.  Felix The Cat ran on strongly to come out clear second best, an excellent first run out of the maidens and a performance which strongly suggests the daughter of Black Minnaloushe will stay further than 1400m.  Felix The Cat in turn finished 3.25 lengths ahead of Extra ahead of Extra Zero, with one length further back to Uptothemoon.  Hidden Beauty has plenty of speed in her pedigree and may have not stayed the distance before finishing 6.25 lengths behind Princess Victoria in fifth place.

Princess Victoria herself should at least cope with the classic 1600m next season, and while champion two-year-olds are only rarely champion three-year-olds there is no reason to believe at this stage that she won’t enjoy another excellent campaign next term.  She looks a scopey sort with a pedigree to match, and she has no doubt already been the subject of several healthy offers (in, amongst other things, oil dollars.)  She possesses an impressive turn of foot which knocks her rivals out in the blinking of an eye, and if she continues in similar vein as she matures she will be something very special indeed.

A daughter of deceased Victory Moon, who has been having a terrific season with his juvenile fillies, Princess Victoria is the fourth foal, fourth winner and first Stakes winner produced from the unraced Rakeen mare Platinum Princess.  This is the family of champion fillies Hoeberg and Petrava, and of former champion sire Jallad.  Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Princess Victoria was bought for R325 000 at the 2010 National Yearling Sale and has won four times from five starts.  She suffered her only defeat when finishing second on debut.  Princess Victoria has earned R756 635 in stakes.

.