As we reported in last month’s newsletter, Princess Gisella was to get the chance to really enhance her value in the Group 3 Back To Caulfield Cockram Stakes on August 16. What we can now report is that she has come through that test with flying colours!

Born and raised here at Blue Gum Farm for her breeder Mr David Yaxley, Princess Gisella is by our former resident stallion King Charlemagne (USA) out of the smart Rubiton racemare Donvamore. This is a family that Mr Yaxley has enjoyed great success with over the years as Donvamore is a half-sister to his tough Stakes winner Jugahtrice, both of them being out of a half-sister to his Champion performer and $3 million earner Sydeston. Princess Gisella is the second Australian Group winner for King Charlemagne, his first was the Dean Lawson-trained Corton Charlemagne who is due to have her first foal by Elvstroem any day now. Our amazing old friend Rubiton of course continues to compile a wonderful broodmare sire record to compliment his own record as a sire and Princess Gisella is now the 19th Stakes winner for him as a broodmare sire.

Princess Gisella was prepared for the 2006 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale here at Blue Gum Farm and it was at that venue that she caught the eye of Aquanita Racing’s Robert Smerdon and Merrick Staunton. Knocked down to them for $40,000, the filly had been a model of consistency leading up to the Cockram having won four times and placing on another six occasions from her 17 starts, amassing a very healthy $274,500 in stakes along the way. Her latest win has added greatly to that tally and even more importantly, to her residual value.

Nicholas Hall guides Princess Gisella to an impressive win

This years edition of the Cockram was a star studded line up which included the Group 1 winners Zarita, Devil Moon, Cinque Cento and Dorabella among many other quality fillies. Fourth up and coming off Flemington and then Caulfield wins, Princess Gisella jumped well from an outside gate and camped just behind the speed until straightening. It was evident soon after that this was her day as she took the front quickly and won in impressive fashion from Mimi Lebrock with Devil Moon back in third spot. This was a beautifully thought out plan by trainer Smerdon who after her previous Caulfield win, decided to give her a month between runs and try and use her fitness advantage in the Cockram. Princess Gisella under Nicholas Hall did the rest in a fashion that strongly suggests she will continue to figure prominently in the mares stakes races through the Spring. Donvamore has a two year old colt and a yearling colt by Champion Elvstroem and is currently in-foal to our exciting young Danehill stallion Churchill Downs.

Princess Gisella pictured here as a yearling four weeks out from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale