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Princess Rihanna will head back to familiar territory for her next appearance.
She put away a competitive field of older horses over 1400m at Ellerslie last time out and she will return there on Boxing Day for the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).
“We looked at the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni this Saturday, but we want to give her a little bit longer between races and Ellerslie will set her up better for the summer months,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the Showcasing filly with Lance O’Sullivan.“We’ve had doubts about her running a mile and she’s not bred to, but as we know against their own sex and age group they often can.
“The way she ran out 1400m last time was very encouraging and she knows her way around Ellerslie so well.”Stablemate Spring Heat will also run in the Eight Carat following her explosive performance last Saturday to win the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).
“She’s improving and she pulled up very well,” Scott said. “We’ve always thought a lot of her.”Meanwhile, the stable’s runners at Hastings on Thursday include the promising Tavistock three-year-old Aero De Paris in the Trinity Hill Mile (1600m). He was second on debut and then fifth at Ellerslie.
“He’s a good galloper who got caught wide last time and got a bit lost,” Scott said. “With that experience under his belt we’re hoping he bounces back, he’s pleased us in his work since.”Jessie May (race four), Hello Sailor (race five) and Sound Of Music (race six) are also rated each way chances.
“Jessie May was okay last time and she’s improved while Hello Sailor has been going good races in strong fields,” Scott said. “Sound Of Music’s last trial was encouraging and she’s screaming out for a mile.”