Princess Posh wins Newcastle Newmarket

Princess Posh (c) has given trainer Kris Lees his first win in the G3 Newcastle Newmarket.

Princess Posh has given local trainer Kris Lees his first win in the Group Three Newmarket at Newcastle, a day before he saddles three horses in the Group One race with the same name at Flemington.

Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the mare prevailed in a tight finish by a half head over Godolphin’s Savatiano with the Lees-trained Invincible Gem another length third.

Lees missed the race as he was on his way to Melbourne where In Her Time, Brave Smash and Graff will contest Saturday’s famous Newmarket Handicap on the straight course at Flemington.

Australian Bloodstock manager Jamie Lovett said Princess Posh, who also beat Savatiano to win the Group Three Tibbie in September over 1400m on her home track, was probably at the end of her racing career.

“It was probably her last race,” Lovett told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“She is likely to go to the (broodmare) sale now.

“She has been a great horse for the owners. It’s a thrill to win this race.”

Avdulla said the mare stuck to her task well.

“She ran terrific,” he said.

“She’s always been a mare blessed with good ability. She’s probably not the soundest horse Kris has trained but I gave her a good preliminary.

“I was very happy in the run. I had the back of Invincible Gem from about the 1000 metres and was able to creep into the race without doing any work at all.

“Once I presented I knew Savatiano was off and gone but to my mare’s credit she knuckled down and did the job well.”