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Princess Calla And Desert Miracle To Clash In Empress Club

By March 14, 2023SA Racing

Princess Calla cruises to an emphatic victory in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes on Saturday at Turffontein Standside. (JC Photos).

Princess Calla And Desert Miracle Vying For Equus Champion Older Female Award 

 

The Sean Tarry-trained Princess Calla and the Mike de Kock-trained Desert Miracle will clash in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes next and the outcome will go some way to deciding the Equus Older Female award.

In the last published table the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes winner Desert Miracle led the points table log for this award on 46 points and Princess Calla was on 32, courtesy of her two Grade 2 fillies sprint wins.

Princess Calla added the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes to her season’s tally on Saturday with an emphatic 5,25 length victory.  

That is an open Grade 2 race, so she collected 20 points.

Princess Calla, a five-year-old mare by stamina influence Flower Alley, is true class as she has proved superior to the best female sprinters around, yet she has won a Grade 1 over a mile and in her three career runs over middle distances she was beaten 2,25 lengths into second in the 2021 Grade 1 Paddock Stakes won by Queen Supreme in just her fifth career start, 5,40 lengths into fifth in the 2021 Met won by Rainbow Bridge, 2,10 lengths into second in the 2021 Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 by War Of Athena and 0,70 lengths into fourth in the 2022 Paddock Stakes won by Captain’s Ransom.

This season she has looked better than ever.

There is one truism in horseracing that applies to her and popped up in a question asked to one of the world’s leading racing analysts, James Willoughby:
 
Question: “What is one piece of advice would you give to someone analysing a horserace?”
 
Answer: “Horses who finish well have often had the easiest trip.”
 
This truism invariably applies to Princess Calla because she relaxes so well in the running, even when facing the breeze, meaning she invariably enjoys a good trip.
 
On Saturday, she was admittedly favoured at the weights off her 121 rating because she was at the top of the 117-121 merit rated band and also received a 2,5kg gender allowance. 
 
She initially sat behind the speedy Roll With The Punches.
 
Richard Fourie was not bothered when she got shuffled into a position where she had no cover, knowing how well she relaxes.
 
Her class was evident as she cruised past the leader, leaving the rest scampering like greyhounds in her wake.
 
Roll With The Punches held on for second ahead of Supreme Warrior and Thunderstruck. 
 
Princess Calla has that substance about her associated with top class thoroughbreds and Desert Miracle will have her work cut out in the Empress Club. 
 
Desert Miracle, a four-year-old Dynasty filly, is also held in high regard. She  has shown how good she is this season, after being expensive to follow as a highly touted three-year-old who had one or two issues.
 
The secret in the Majorca was switching her off at the back of a small field before using her fine turn of foot in the straight.
 
Christophe Soumillon being aboard was another reason.
 
There are few jockeys, if any, with hands like his and he will be a hard act to follow for whoever gets the ride in the Empress Club. 
 
It is going to be an intriguing clash and, with Captain’s Ransom retired, there is all to play for.
 
Princess Calla also made inroads in the Equus Champion Sprinter points table and on 52 points is in second place, 14 points behind Gimme A Prince.
 
It will be interesting if she takes in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint.
 
She will be the hot favourite there if she does line up.
 
She must be reminding Tarry a bit of Celtic Sea, who won two Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprints and one Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.
 
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