Racing: Waikato trainer farewells his reigning champion

Waikato studmaster and trainer Brent Gillovic will farewell Wealth Princess today with a mix of emotions after her gutsy second in the group one A$500,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

"I'm very proud of her, it was a terrific effort by her yesterday and to do what she has done is phenomenal," said Gillovic yesterday.

"It will be sad to see her go. She is a real character and has been a pet for us."

Gillovic will take Wealth Princess to a spelling paddock in Queensland and she will have a three-to-four week break before heading to Lee Freedman's Victoria stable, after her recent sale to prominent Australian owner Sean Buckley by her Hong Kong-based breeder Victor Ngai.

"She will probably have a couple of runs in the spring in Melbourne. A race like the Newmarket [1200m in autumn] at Flemington could well suit her," Gillovic said.

Wealth Princess gave race winner Melito a big start on Saturday before pounding down the outside, but the Gerald Ryan-trained filly had enough kick on the line to hold her out by three-quarters of a length. Beaded ran third, two lengths back, with the Stephen McKee-trained Culminate running a typically honest fourth.

"It was a gutsy run, the track bias was for horses further in near the lead, so it was always going to be difficult. I thought she acquitted herself very well and has proved to be up with the best over here which is terrific," Gillovic said.

"Melito will probably be the group one filly of the year in Australia."

Gillovic has been in Queensland for seven weeks with the mare and has had more than his share of frustration, as she cut her tongue at one stage and had issues with her shins. She won the group three Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben on May 22.

"It's unfair to judge her, because nothing has gone totally right. When you compete with the best at group one company, you want everything going your way."

Gillovic can now dream about producing another star from the same family.

At Highview Stud, he has Wealth Princess' 2-year-old sister, who has shown some talent at training, a rising yearling half-sister by Danroad, while the mare's dam, Wealth Star, is in foal to Align.

"We will have a bit of fun seeing whether we can get another one as good. You live in hope - that's the name of the game."

Wealth Princess had six wins and four placings from 11 runs for Gillovic.

The golden Queensland winter for Matamata trainer Andrew Scott continued, with Pennacchio's win in the listed Centenary Classic Mile.

Pennacchio had scored earlier at the carnival, winning a listed race at Eagle Farm on June 5, the same day that Miss Keepsake won the Queensland Oaks for the stable.

Ridden back in the field by Dwayne Dunn, the Align mare powered home down the straight to win comfortably by 1 lengths. Pacemaker Firebolt, from the Roger James and Paul Mirabelli stable, held on well for second to give Waikato a quinella in the race, while La Etoile just missed grabbing third from Secrets Untold, with Sir Time Keeper fifth.

Earlier on the card, the Keith Opie-trained Indikator flashed home for second in the group three A$200,000 Tattersalls Cup (2200m), though a little more than three lengths from winner Mirrasalo.

- NZPA