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War Princess soars to Tauranga success
Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • November 1st, 2025 6:30 pm
War Princess (outside) winning the Armory Standing at Mapperley Stud 3YO (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Awapuni filly War Princess moved a big step closer to a summer target when she ventured to Tauranga on Saturday and scored an impressive come-from-behind victory in the Armory Standing at Mapperley Stud 3YO (1200m).
The $40,000 race was the first time War Princess had travelled to the north, the first time she had raced right-handed, and after being left slightly flat-footed in the early stages of the race, the first time she had raced or trialled anywhere other than on the pace.
With the first two races on Saturday’s Tauranga card both won by on-pace runners, that change in position seemed to be detrimental to War Princess’s chances. Coming up to the home turn, she had only one horse behind her and was giving the leaders half a dozen lengths.
Unbeaten filly Passiflora showed the way up to the turn and straightened for home with a narrow advantage over the favourite Lubeck. When that rival ranged up alongside her, Passiflora kicked again to set up what looked like an exciting two-horse battle to the line.
But then jockey Craig Grylls unleashed War Princess down the outside. She lengthened stride and moved up into third with 150m remaining, albeit still with three lengths to make up on the leading pair.
Then War Princess moved up another gear and flew up alongside Lubeck and Passiflora, collaring Lubeck in the last stride and winning by a short neck.
“We were a bit worried when the gates opened and she ended up out the back, and we didn’t really have a Plan B,” said Trent Didham, who trains in partnership with his father Peter.
“But she’s shown today that she’s not just one-dimensional, so that was good to see. Considering the first two races were both won off the front, it was a massive performance for her to come from behind like that.
“This filly’s owners are huge supporters of ours – Ian Middleton (Exempt Bloodstock), the Hart family and Roach family (Chelsea Connections Ltd). They always have three or four horses in our barn, so we’re very grateful to them.
“Hopefully she can go on with it from here. Making the trip up north and racing this way around has been a good experience for her. The dream really is the big three-year-old sprint on Karaka Millions night at Ellerslie in January (Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy, 1200m). That’s still a long way away, but we’ll aim for that.”
Haunui Farm offered War Princess in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where Exempt Bloodstock and Didham Racing bought her for $77,500. She has now had six starts for four wins and $80,560 in stakes.
Saturday’s win made a good impression on Grylls, who was riding her for the first time.
“I was talking to Trent before the race and he thought we’d probably be outside the leader,” Grylls said. “She jumped okay but then just didn’t really hit the ground running, and they went at a good enough tempo that she was off the bridle early on.
“But then she worked into it at the right time, and the way she picked them up at the end was very good. She’s a classy filly. She’s putting a good record together and took another step up today, and I reckon she can keep going on with it.”
