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Daughter of Pins to be covered by Almanzor
After finishing a disappointing 11th in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr 2, 1200m) on Saturday, Group 3 winner Princess Kereru (Pins) has been retired and she will now be covered by Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Wootton Bassett).
The seven-year-old finished nine-and-a-half lengths behind Avantage (Fastnet Rock), which is well below her from her best form which saw her land the Darley Plate (Gr 3, 1200m) and be narrowly beaten into second in the 2019 Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
“She was going to stud this year anyway and has a booking to Almanzor,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said.
“The plan was to race her and if her form warranted it to race her on in-foal. But it was a sub-par performance on Saturday, and we thought it best that she be retired now. She’s probably done enough.”
Bred and raced by Paul Humphries and his sons Kevan, Richard and Michael, Princess Kereru won seven of 30 starts, which saw her accrue NZ$279,625 in career prize-money.
“It’s just unfortunate that she didn’t win the Railway, but she couldn’t have done much better, she’s Group 1-placed and a Group 3 winner,” Kelso said.
“She’s also Group Two placed and a Listed winner. She’s been a bonny little mare and she’s done us and the owners proud. She’s a seven-year-old mare so it’s time to look for a new career.”
The mare is out of three-time winning mare Fleur D’Amour (Thorn Park), who is herself a half-sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Thunder Lady (Mastercraftsman).
Further back she hails from the same family Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch), Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Levendi (Pierro) and Group 3-winning duo Wu Gok (Sebring) and Marcel From Madrid (Sepoy).