Princess Brook’s plan of action in hands of handicapper

The treatment from the handicapper will decide Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy’s next start with Princess Brook after her impressive win over 1400m at Riccarton on Saturday.

The daughter of Raise The Flag slowly warmed to her task in the rating 85 affair at Riccarton, eventually finding large gaps at the 250m to unwind nicely to the line.

Jockey Chris Johnson timed his run to perfection, asking just enough from the mare to beat Five Kings by a short head.

"He didn’t panic," Kennedy said.

"1400m is probably short enough for her now."

Kennedy has a plan mapped out through to November, providing she does not get heavily punished by the handicapper for Saturday’s win.

"It depends how many points they give her, but I thought I might go to Gore [on September 23]; there’s a rating 90 1800m there.

"Then I thought I might run her at Winton [on October 9] over 2000m."

All going well, Kennedy will then run Princess Brook in the listed Spring Classic at Riccarton on October 22 before lining up in the Metropolitan on November 5 and the New Zealand Cup a week later.

Kennedy’s win was one of two for Wingatui trainers on the day. Joanne Hillis took Colchester north for a rating 65 1400m and he duly obliged — just.

The son of Rios still has plenty to learn about racing, and only grabbed the victory due to getting the bob in at the right time to beat Mulberry by a nose.

"He’s been a bit green, really — yesterday he was looking around all over the place — but he’s coping with things pretty well," Hillis said.

After finishing 10th on debut, the gelding beat the well-regarded Seamstress at Ashburton in late July over 1200m, before winning over 1400m yesterday, although Hillis is unsure what his best distance might be.

"I don’t really know, but he was pretty wide yesterday so he might go 1600m."

Hillis will figure out her next move with the 4yr-old this week.

Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman could be in for a big spring with First Serve, judging by her win in the 1000m open handicap yesterday.

Jockey Samantha Wynne, fresh from a trip home to Ireland, gave the Swiss Ace mare a perfect run just in behind the leaders, before easing her into the clear in the straight to beat Red Dirt Girl by 1 lengths.

The Pitmans had a good day, winning two other races on the card with Maher Moment in a 1400m maiden and Night Nurse in the rating 75 1600m.