Winner of a Listed race at Morphettville in December, fourth behind the high-class Whispering Brook in a Group II at Moonee Valley in January, Princess Of Queens continued her run of hot form when winning Saturday's Group III Bellmaine Stakes at Caulfield and trainer Mick Price credits the rejuvenation of the 5-year-old daughter of Magnus to her regular trips to the beach.
"It's good for these older horses, I think they get a bit sick of blokes like me trying to train them, so just leave them alone, keep them happy, go to the beach, a few gallops and turn up on race day," Price said.
"She's a tough Magnus filly who we've had since she was a little baby, she's always been one of those low-profile horses in the stable but bit by bit she's got the job done.
"She's had a few goes at these Group races and to win a Group III now is fantastic."
Price said Princess Of Queens continues to thrive despite making her 11th start of the preparation.
"She's only had 11 runs so I don't want to put her out because she wouldn't know what green grass is," Price joked.
"She's sound and tenacious and Dwayne rode her well and now she is a Group III winner. "
Given the run of the race, one out and one back, by Dwayne Dunn, Princess Of Queens defeated Fuhryk (Star Witness) by a half neck with I Am A Star (I Am Invincible) three-quarters of a length back in third. (image Grant Courtney )
The Marks-family homebred advances her record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $441,240.
She is the second stakes-winner for the Zabeel mare Tristabeel whose six runners to reach the track have all been winners.
They are led by the Group III SAJC National Stakes winner Duke Of Brunswick and the talented Melbourne winner Prince Of Brooklyn, both brothers to Princess Of Queens.
They are out of the Zabeel mare Tristabeel whose dam Consult (Bletchingly) is a daughter of the champion racemare Research (Imperial Prince) the Australian Horse of the Year & Champion 3YO in Australasia in 1988-89. Her 9 wins included the AJC Derby, AJC Oaks, VRC Oaks and AJC Flight Stakes.
Tristabeel did not have another live foal after Princess Of Queens who is one of 17 stakes-winners for Sun Stud's Magnus who covered 159 mares last spring at a fee of $19,800.
