Princess Coup 輕取蓋都錦標，向其在澳洲爭取第一項一級賽冠軍打下強心針
Emotional part-owner Ray Coupland threw out a Co Plate challenge after Princess Coup staged another terrific performance to win the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings today.
A year after she had got up in the last stride to win New Zealand's richest weight-for-age event, Princess Coup left no excuses for any of her rivals as she powered to a highly popular win, racing away to score by a length and a quarter from Red Ruler and AJC Derby winner Nom Du Jeu.
Twelve months ago Coupland was too ill to make it to Hastings for the Kelt Capital Stakes win and it was left to John Bromley, his partner in Princess Coup, to lead her back to scale.
But even having undergone a multiple heart bypass in August, Coupland wasn't going to miss today's race for anyone or anything.
The emotion showed as he headed out to lead Princess Coup back to the winner's enclosure.
"You can call her a champion now," said Coupland.
"She's amazing.
"In that wind, to do what she did showed what a champion she is.
"It's a very emotional time for me.
"John (Bromley) and I are so lucky to have a mare like her.
"Racing is an amazing game."
A $260,000 yearling purchase by David Ellis on behalf of Coupland and Bromley, Princess Coup has now won $4.2 million in stakemoney and is on target to boost that figure substantially in Melbourne.
The Kelt Capital Stakes and $3 million Tatt's Cox Plate at Moonee Valley later this month have been Princess Coup's main targets this campaign and her performance today proved she in on target for Melbourne.
Among Princess Coup's 12 wins are four GI events, the first being the NZ Oaks at Trentham and the others, the Stoney Bridge Stakes and now two Kelt Capital Stakes.
The next boost to her value as a broodmare will be a GI win in Australia.
She has had a frustrating run in GI events in Australia with five placings, including four second placings in the MacKinnon Stakes, Australian Cup, Ranvet Stakes and the BMW.
She started last year's Australian campaign with a third in the Caulfield Cup then after the MacKinnon Stakes placing she was unplaced in the Melbourne Cup.
Princess Coup settled well back as usual, but when rider Opie Bosson made a move across the top the signs of another Kelt victory were clear.
"She travelled into it nicely," said Bosson.
"The only worry I had was when Red Ruler started to come at her wide out, but then she kicked and it was all over."
Red Ruler and Nom Du Jeu were outsprinted by the winner but their efforst were excellent trials for the longer races in Melbourne.
至於 Red Ruler 同 Nom Du Jeu 如期跑寶馬考菲爾德杯
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