Nanango husband-and-wife team Glenn and Hannah Richardson continued their trek towards this month’s Toowoomba Truck Spares Pat O’Shea Plate when Princess Marian staked her race claims at Clifford Park today.
The Pat O’Shea Plate opens Queensland’s two-year-old racing season at Clifford Park on Saturday, September 25.
The $127,500 QTIS feature is one of the star attractions on Toowoomba Turf Club’s 2021 Audi Centre Toowoomba Weetwood race-day program.
The nine-race spring-racing spectacular is Queensland’s major meeting on the day with full metropolitan racing status.
The day is highlighted by the $150,000 Audi Centre Weetwood Listed Handicap (1200m). Other races include the $125,000 TAB Toowoomba Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Magic Millions Garden City Guineas (1625m).
Princess Marian took her next Plate step with an all-the-way win for jockey Hannah Richardson in today’s first official 650-metre barrier trial. She held on to beat the Tony Webb-trained filly Katysphere by a short neck. Another Tony Webb filly, Possover, finished three lengths away third.
Princess Marian is preparing for trainer Glenn Richardson’s second Pat O’Shea Plate tilt, as she looks to emulate the effort of her big brother, Sherwood Prince, in last year’s race.
Sherwood Prince (Better Than Ready-Miss Bam) provided the stable with a huge thrill in the 2020 Plate with his fighting third behind Mishani Scandal and Mishani Operator after earlier shining in the Clifford Park trials.
By Glen McCullough
