Smart four-year-old Princess Katie, who caused a major upset when she stormed home to win the $50,000 Trotsynd Christmas Belles for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night, is destined to race in the United States.
“Her sale to America is in the process, and we’re just waiting for a suitable flight,” said leading trainer Michael Young, the major shareholder of Princess Katie. “Discussions have been ongoing for the past month.
“She has been a gem, and her performance tonight was probably the best she has gone. I was surprised a few months ago when she was offered for sale for $15,000, and there were no positive offers.”
Young, who holds an unbeatable lead in the 2025 WA trainers’ premiership table --- with 121 wins, seven ahead of Aiden De Campo --- purchased Princess Katie for $30,000 at the 2022 Perth APG yearling sale, and the daughter of former star pacer Vincent has now amassed $186,261 in prizemoney from eleven wins and 17 placings from 63 starts.
Princess Katie is the first foal out of Rocknroll Dreams, who was retired after earning $18,121 from two wins (at Northam and Pinjarra) and six placings.
Princess Katie gave Young his second success in the Christmas Belles, a listed classic event, following Eighteen Carat’s head victory over Fifty Five Reborn in 2022.
Polemarker Dame Valour ($4.40) held out Madam Publisher ($6.50) in the early stages and then set a modest pace with opening quarters of 31.1sec. and 29.9sec. before Deni Roberts sent $3.10 chance Aardiebytheseaside forward from the rear after 650m to move to the breeze with 1200m to travel. Shannon Suvaljko has happy to have Princess Katie travelling easily in fifth position, three back on the pegs.
Aardiebytheseaside got to the front with 225m to travel, and Shannon Suvaljkjo was able to improve along the inside with Princess Katie after $61 outsider Xcite Me left the pegs after trailing the pacemaking Dame Valour. Princess Katie then got into the clear and stormed home to take the lead in the final 25m and win by one and a half lengths from Aardiebytheseaside.
“I’ve driven Princess Katie a few times lately and it was good that we got three back on the pegs straight away when I expected to be four or five back,” said Suvaljko. “But when we got three back Princess Katie travelled strongly. She wanted to win tonight; her ears were pricked and she wasn’t off the bit down the back. We got the right run, and she fought it out very well.”
