KEY POINTS:
New Zealand has seen good years for 3-year-old fillies, but never one with the depth of strength there is right now.
The field for today's $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Classic at Te Rapa is remarkable.
Even Mark Walker, who has four runners in today's group-two event - including the favourite, Princess Coup - is in awe of the depth of talent in the fillies' ranks.
"These races are getting very competitive," said Walker yesterday.
Evidence of that strength is the fact that Velvet And Satin has finished third to Dorabella in the group-one 1000 Guineas and third to Keep The Passion in Ellerslie's Royal Stakes, but has yet to win a race.
Until she does she will remain New Zealand's classiest maiden.
Walker is delighted with Princess Coup, whose sprinting finish from an awkward spot at the 250m at Trentham last start stamped her as the potential top filly.
"She's a good tough filly," says her trainer.
"Despite her racing, she's just starting to hit her straps. She's like a colt, she just works and eats."
Two starts back Princess Coup jumped from the outside gate at the 2000m Ellerslie starting point in the Royal Stakes and turned left towards the outside running rail.
"In retrospect I think she saw the rail and thought she was going to be racing left-handed."
Walker gave the filly barrier practice between that race and winning at Trentham and there have been no problems.
The No 6 barrier draw looks perfect today with some of her main rivals - Keep The Passion (No 15), Velvet And Satin (No 16) and Post Thyme (No 13) - drawn awkwardly.
