A close-up fifth behind Charm Stone in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes proved the perfect appetizer for the Exceed And Excel filly Oz Empress to open her stakes account in Saturday’s Listed Down Syndrome Victoria Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Winona Costin for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Oz Empress made the running in the typical take-no-prisoners fashion of the stable.
On tired legs in the closing stages, the daughter of Exceed And Excel staved off the Spirit Of Boom filly De Sonic Boom by three-quarters of a length, with the Pierro filly Poifect the same distance back in third.
With her stakes breakthrough, Oz Empress advances her record to two wins, a second, and a third from six starts with earnings of $180,975.
“I’m sure Gai is at home watching this, and likewise Adrian back in Sydney. It was a beautiful watch, a brilliant ride by Winona,”stable representative Emma Coleman said.
“It took a lot of catching from the others to get up to her. It was a beautiful ride, and I’m delighted that she got that win.
“I think she ran a great race first-up to come second and then in the Atlantic Jewel it was a pretty solid race from her to finish fifth and I think the fitness on side and the 1400 metres today proved the making of her. I’m delighted for all her connections.
“I will leave it in the capable hands of Gai and Adrian, but I think if we could win a Guineas with her. We would be absolutely delighted, so we will see how she pulls up and have a chat with the team.”
Winona Costin said she has a connection with the family.
“She jumped nicely from the barriers and just urged her along to retain the lead, and once we got there, she got into a nice rhythm. She gave such a good kick at the top of the straight and she was so tough late.”
A homebred for Tony Bott’s Evergreen Rich, Oz Empress is a sister to Group III-placed winner Key, who sold at last year’s National Broodmare Sale for $1,100,000 when carrying a Frankel (GB) colt.
Oz Empress is the fourth winner from as many to race for the Randwick winner Vanilla Princess.
A daughter of Lonhro and Princess Coup, Vanilla Princess is a half-sister to the dual Group III winning Frankel filly Argentia and the talented Redoute’s Choice sprinter Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice), a Group III winner in Hong Kong.
The 4-time Group 1 winner and $3.8 million earner Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago) was a $3,000,000 purchase for e Thoroughbreds at the 2009 National Broodmare Sale.
Rosana Thanos shelled out $50,000 for an American Pharoah colt from Vanilla Princess consigned by Evergreen Stud Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
After foaling a Farnan filly last spring, Vanilla Princess was covered by Snitzel.
Oz Empress is stakes-winner 211 for Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel.
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