Prowess Arrives in Sydney

Media Release - Monday March 20

Roger James will be hoping to roll back the years in Sydney this weekend with his top-class filly Prowess.

The Cambridge trainer has the daughter of Proisir set for Saturday’s Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), an age group feature at Rosehill that he won back in 2002 with Sixty Seconds.

Prowess will contest the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell

“I remember it very well, my memory’s not failing and it would be lovely to do it all over again,” James said.

He now operates in partnership with Robert Wellwood, and Prowess will bid to hand the duo their second Group One success on Australian soil following Pinarello’s win last season in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

“She arrived here on Sunday and was dripping from head to toe when she got off the float, but it was 32 degrees,” James said.

“Honestly, top marks to her as she has now really settled in incredibly well at Randwick. We’re pretty happy with her.”

Advertisement

Prowess, who will be ridden by Mark Zahra, sealed her trip with an impressive last start defeat of the older horses in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe.

Freshened after finishing third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), she is unbeaten this preparation following her first-up success in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m).

Prowess then claimed the Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) before the New Zealand Stakes.

James and Wellwood have also celebrated top-flight victories with Concert Hall in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) and Two Illicit in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) since forming a partnership at the beginning of the 2018-19 season.

Wellwood initially joined Kingsclere Stables in 2017 in the role of Racing Manager before taking out his trainer’s licence.

“It’s great to have a modern-thinking brain and we both have a good deal of input,” James said.

“It’s lovely to have that young line of thought coming into things and someone to bounce things off.

“It’s a true partnership and Robert is also a business partner now and it’s all working very well.”

Prowess’ stablemate Mark Twain will also head to Sydney to contest the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday week.

The lightly raced son of Shocking finished a gallant fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at his fifth appearance.

The OTI Racing-owned Mark Twain had broken his maiden at Hawera on Christmas Eve and then beat the older horses over 2100m at Hastings in his lead-up to the Classic at Te Rapa.

After taking plenty of advice, the stable has elected to forego the opportunity of starting the gelding in this Saturday’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

“He won’t arrive here until next week, we’re pretty certain that he’s going to make the Derby field so we’re not running him this weekend,” James said.

“He will have his preparation at home and hopefully we have made the right call.

“We have spoken with numerous people that have done a lot of homework for us and they have all come up with, at this stage, at least a 90 percent chance of making the Derby without another run and that’s our preferred option.” – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Proisir

Proisir in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Prowess Retired to Stud
Outstanding Group I winning mare Prowess has run her last race with Kingsclere Stables announcing the daughter of Proisir has been retired due to a degenerative hoof condition.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Proisir Mare Prowess Ready for G2 Crystal Mile
Pre-race indicators all point to another high-class performance from Prowess in her delayed introduction to the Melbourne spring carnival.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Prowess Back on Track
After a couple of false starts, Group One winner Prowess had her first public hit-out the season in an exhibition gallop alongside stablemate Contemplation at Matamata on Wednesday.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.