'Princess' to be crowned queen

Turf Princess is better than that one win on her resume.

She deserves more and the recognition could come when she takes on a Class 4 (Premier) field of sprinters on Friday night.

That is, of course, if she brings her trackform to the races.

Turf Princess was one of the stars on the training track yesterday morning when she turned in a grand workout, running the 600m in 36.2sec.

Frenchman Olivier Placais did the steering, the filly did the rest.

Prepared for the races from Day One by Lee Freedman, Turf Princess needed to go six runs without winning before she finally tasted glory.

That came in mid-July when she made mincemeat of her rivals, winning an Open Maiden contest with plenty of "oomph".

The race was on the turf and over the 1,400m trip and Placais was having just his second ride on the "princess".

That day she made him feel like a king when she, so majestically, charged home from her spot just off midfield to run her rivals ragged.The winning margin was 31/2 lengths. It could have been a street - such was her dominance in the contest.

Her fans were flushed. Surely, a double was on the cards and, in her next start, they backed her down to even-money favourite.

She was a tad unlucky in the running and, although she came home with a flourish, the momentum was with the winner Sacred Magic who won the race from the front.

Then, at her last start, she went down to Angel Halo. A print of the finish showed her losing by a nostril.

CROWNED

Well, that's all behind her and you might want to stick with her because, come Friday, the princess could be crowned queen.

However, it's not a done deal. Out there to spoil her party is Grand Knight.

The four-year-old was equally impressive on the training track, running the 600m in 37sec.

Ryan Curatolo, who will sit out the races on Sept 21, 23 and 25, was the man in the saddle.

Trained by Leslie Khoo, who saddled a winner with Invincible Man on Sunday, Grand Knight won his last start in fine style - leading all the way to beat highly touted Cracking Tottie by almost two lengths over the 1,400m.

It was Grand Knight's sixth start and he's not done yet.

Also on Friday night's standalone meeting - there are no races on Sunday - keep an eye on Clarton Treasure in the Class 3 Division 1 sprint over the 1,200m.

From trainer KY Young's yard, the four-year-old worked impressively, running the 600m in 39.2sec.

Benny Woodworth was on the reins. Already a two-time winner from just three starts, Clarton Treasure missed out by half a length on making it a hat-trick of wins.

That day on July 27, Enchanted Mister - ridden by visiting Hong Kong apprentice Matthew Poon - played spoiler, beating Clarton Treasure by half a length.

I say keep the faith with the son of Guillotine.

He seems to be in that kind of mood where he could easily claim the scalps of his rivals.