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Gavin Cromwell says Princess Yaiza’s season will be geared around getting her ready for a run at ParisLongchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
The five-year-old is back in the care of the County Meath handler after a disappointing stint in Amerca and returned to action in January at Dundalk, finishing runner-up to Bowerman on that occasion.
It was a far cry from where Cromwell wants the mare to eventually end up, as he looks for her to repeat her 2018 success in the Prix de Royallieu in the French capital this October.
Princess Yaiza went to the Breeders’ Cup meeting off the back of that triumph but produced a below-par showing at Churchill Downs, as she finished unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She was subsequently switched to Christophe Clement’s yard, but failed to run again Stateside.
Having come back to Cromwell, hopes are high of Princess Yaiza rolling back the years to contend on Arc weekend.
“We were happy enough with the run (at Dundalk) and she came out of it good, so we are looking forward to her for the season,” Cromwell told Racing TV.
“I had planned to run her in the Listed Noblesse Stakes at Cork and she had entries in the Vintage Crop (at Navan) and the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup.
“She also has other options in Group Threes like the Munster Oaks and the Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown, depending on when racing returns.”
The trainer went on to added: “If travel restrictions ease, the race she won on Arc weekend in 2018 is now a Group One, so that would be the aim. She could take in the Listed Oyster Stakes at Galway in September if that goes ahead.
“She ran on good to firm for us before without a problem, but probably good or a little on the easier side is her ground. Not having to train on that fast surface every day is probably a big part of it.”