Darrell Hollinshead has two strong chances at Matamata to continue the good run of recent form of his boutique stable.
The Te Awamutu trainer produced Bak Da Angel to score last weekend at Te Rapa where stablemate Digger also placed and Rosetown Princess and Ramblin’ Rose will represent the team on Saturday.
Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial (2000m) contender Rosetown Princess has been in good touch this preparation and was an open handicap winner at New Plymouth three runs back.
She then ran fifth at Te Aroha before the Redwood mare returned to Taranaki to finish runner-up and Hollinshead believes a case can be made for her to have gone closer on both occasions.
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“She could possibly have won them all, she was in the worst part of the track on the fence two runs back,” he said.
“Next time, Elen (Nicholas) got off her and said she rode her a bit too pretty and got held up a whisker and lost a bit of momentum.”
Rosetown Princess began her career in Victorian racing with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and placed in seven consecutive starts before returning to Hollinshead and is now a four-time winner.
“We gave her one run over ground after she came back from Australia and she drew wide and over-raced the whole way,” he said.
“We were a bit scared to put her over ground again, but when she gets a bit of cover she’s as good as gold.”
Rosetown Princess will be ridden by Ashlee Strawbridge, who will also be aboard Ramblin’ Rose in the Mitre 10 Matamata Handicap (2000m).
The daughter of Complacent got home strongly to finish third over 1600m last time out when resuming at Te Rapa.
“She clipped heels at the start last time and that’s why she was three lengths last and then ran on nicely,” Hollinshead said.
Meanwhile, Hollinshead is considering his options with Ace High five-year-old Bak Da Angel with a tilt at the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) a possibility.
“I may put in a nomination for that weight-for-age race and she could be a horse for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) at Pukekohe. I think she’s the most improved horse we’ve had for years.”
Close relatives Bak Da Angel and Rosetown Princess were bred by Hollinshead with their pedigrees featuring the family’s Group 1 Easter Handicap (1600m) winner Pondarosa Miss and the ill-fated dual top-flight winner Te Akau Shark.