Trish Dunell
A return to Ellerslie later this month looks likely for Princess Kereru after her impressive runner-up performance in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at the Auckland track on New Year’s Day.
Trained by Ken and Bev Kelso and Mark Donoghue, Princess Kereru looked a winning chance down the straight on Tuesday, but was headed on the line by Santa Monica.
Ken Kelso was pleased with the run and said the five-year-old daughter of Pins could bypass the Gr.1 JR & N Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 19 in favour of the Gr.3 Brighthill Farm Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night.
“It was a huge effort and a great ride from Cameron (Lammas),” Kelso said. “We thought we were home for a while, but the other horse got up.
“Maybe we were down in the worst gate on the inside, but I’m making excuses with that. It was a terrific effort, she is Group One placed, so you can’t beat that.
“It’s a great result for the stable and the staff who do all of the hard work and I couldn’t be happier.
“She may come back here for the Concorde the week later and try to get that full black-type. But we’ll see how she goes.”