Cromwell's Princess bidding for Stars and Stripes
Big race day moves closer for Danestown (Navan) trainer Gavin Cromwell with his Longchamp winner Princess Yaiza set to face 13 other runners in the Breeders' Cup weekend at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
The Princess will jump out of the stalls for the (18:04) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Grade 1 contest that offers a first prize of $1,260,000.
Princess Yaiza travelled on Friday / Saturday via Stanted on a chartered 777 direct to Louisville and then had to do the customary quarantine period.
"She has travelled well but was looking pleased to see a familiar face, professional grooms travel with the horses on the flight, a big thank you to the whole team - it’s a big achievement for the yard to get her there," commented the trainer on his Facebook page.
Gavin Cromwell's runner is one of four Irish-trained in the race with Aidian O'Brien (two) and Dermot Weld also flying the flag in the one-mile and three-furlong contest.
Princess Yaiza made her debut for the trainer in a maiden race at the Curragh in July 2017 with the current champion jockey Colin Keane, from Trim, on board.
Since that debut outing Princess Yaiza won twice at Dundalk, last November in a maiden and a handicap in December.
There was also placed efforts in big races at Galway, Newbury and Chester earlier this year before the big race win at Longchamp at the beginning of October.
That win on Arc weekend was achieved in the Qatar Prix De Royallieu fillies´ Group 2 over a mile and a half.
Princess Yaiza is owned by American racing enthusiast Lindsay Laroche.
It's all a bit of a different environment from the double that the trainer enjoyed at Ayr on Monday in two handicap chases or the race that the veteran Raz De Maree might go for next Sunday - the Paddy Power Cork Grand National at Mallow.
SEE VIDEO CLIP FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS