Though she must clash with Tommy Tucker and Patrick Erin, the Terry Kennedy-trained mare will line up with a weight advantage of at least 4.5kg on her two main rivals.That weight swing means the 6yr-old will have no excuses.
"At the weights she is going to have to be hard to beat," Kennedy said.
Princess Brook has not raced since October 28, but the trainer is not concerned about that.
"She goes super when she is on the fresh side."
Princess Brook is drawn wide in barrier 13 but the long run to the first bend should give rider Courtney Barnes a good opportunity to slot the mare into a handy spot.
Barnes has had a successful combination with the horse in the past and she gets back on Princess Brook after her regular, Chris Johnson, was booked to ride Patrick Erin.
"Courtney knows the mare so she is not losing anything there," Kennedy said.
Johnson is committed to ride the horse in the 3200m Wellington Cup in January.
Johnson is also booked to ride Princess Brook in the Manawatu Cup on December 23.
The only thing that could upset Princess Brook’s chances tomorrow is if the Cromwell track got too firm.
That would not only harm her chances tomorrow but also hamper her progress to her Manawatu target, Kennedy said.
Tommy Tucker gets a chance to get his usually faultless form back on track. He steps up to a trip of at least 2000m for a third time. He won the group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) in the autumn and was second in the corresponding Cromwell event last year.
Tommy Tucker is drawn in barrier 12 alongside Who Dares Wins (11).
The Tony and Lyn Prendergast gelding won consecutive races during the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton and tomorrow shoots for a hat-trick of wins.
Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston won three races at last year’s Cromwell meeting and looks well placed for another good day out this year.
Carston will start impressive Wingatui winner Celtic Cross in race 3, a highly competitive rating 85 sprint.
The event features Starvoia, who returned from an injury layoff with a dynamic win on the first day of the New Zealand Cup carnival.
Final-day winner Mr Typhon is also a leading contender in today’s race.
Carston also lines up Strowan in race 4.The 4yr-old ran second behind Mr Typhon in his Riccarton win in rating 75 company and drops back to a rating 65 race today.
Another of Carston’s Cup week performers, Hee’s Our Secret, lines up in rating 75 company over 1400m in race 6 today.
The Otago-bred 4yr-old stormed home from off the pace to win his last start at Riccarton.
