‘She’s the gift that keeps on giving’: Princess Coup adds to incredible legacy

Tony Bott and the team at Evergreen Stud Farm paid $3 million for the four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) at the 2009 Magic Millions National Broodmare Select Session, where she was consigned by Willow Park Stud.

At the time, it felt like a lot of money, it was a lot of money. But 14 years later, it has proven to be money well-spent.

Princess Coup has produced 11 foals; nine have raced, eight are winners, including the two-time Group 3 victress Argentia (Frankel {GB}) and the Group 3 scorer and Champion Griffin in Hong Kong in 2014/15 Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice).

Gallery: Princess Coup's Group 3-winning progeny

Furthermore, Princess Coup’s daughter Princess Mia (Fastnet Rock) won two races before throwing the Listed winner Stonecoat (Pierro), while on Saturday at Caulfield, another of her daughters, Vanilla Princess (Lonhro), also a two-time winner, became a stakes-winning producer when Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) made all in the Listed Jim Moloney S.

It’s a phenomenal record for an incredible mare, one that was named Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in New Zealand in 2006/07, Champion Older Female & Stayer in New Zealand in 2007/08 and 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

“It’s just so good, she was such a brilliant race horse, one of the best of her time, and it’s so pleasing to see a classy mare like her produce classy horses, both on the track and then also reproduce,” Evergreen Stud Farm’s Aaron Bott told The Thoroughbred Report.

“She’s handing down her quality. She’s the gift that keeps on giving.

“We’re very pleased and very fortunate.”

Oz Empress’ sister made $550,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was bought by Gary Harding from the Evergreen Stud Farm draft. She was named Key and won one race in New Zealand. Key is now a member of the Kia Ora Stud broodmare band after selling for $600,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Strawberry Hill Stud Unreserved Dispersal.

“She sold very well for us as a yearling and obviously she has gone on to be bred-up. She has produced some nice foals,” Bott explained.

Oz Empress herself was due to be put through the ring at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, but was withdrawn on the eve of trading.

“We intended to sell Oz Empress. We had her there at the sale and we just had a little hiccup with her, so we were forced to pull her out the day before the sale,” said Bott. “It’s turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Oz Empress improved her record to two wins and two placings from six starts when scoring her maiden stakes success.

“It was huge and it was a very dominant win,” Bott commented

“Adrian has certainly given us good feedback on her and had an opinion of her.

“From a physical perspective, we’ve always liked her as a type. She was one that really stood out in the paddock, she shined from early on.

“We’re just very happy we’ve got that first stakes win out of the way, it’s great to have black type on her page, especially with her being from such a wonderful family, it just adds so much and we have so much of the family. Anything from here now is basically a bonus.”

Bott said there are plenty of options on the table for Oz Empress, including the G1 Thousand Guineas, which will be run this year alongside the G1 Caulfield Guineas (on October 14).

“Adrian will map out a few options, he knows her best,” Bott said.

Vanilla Princess has a yearling filly by Farnan, as is in foal to Snitzel. Bott said a covering sire for the new season is yet to be confirmed.

“We’re still not sure, but there’s plenty of options. It will be a good mating whatever we do,” he said.

“With both her and Princess Coup, we’ve been to most of the top-grade stallions, it’s whether we stick with that proven horse or we do go for a younger first-season horse. We’ll have a look at the matings and physical match-ups again.”

Princess Coup, meanwhile, is in foal on a late cover to Exceed And Excel. No stallion has been selected for her as yet for this season.

“We’ve integrated all of the family with the stallions that we’ve had success with,” explained Bott.

“We’ve used Redoute’s Choice, Fastnet Rock, Snitzel and Exceed And Excel quite a bit. And Frankel sired Argentia.

“We sent Dorothy Of Oz, another daughter of Princess Coup, to Frankel last season and she has just had a lovely filly. As soon as I saw her, I thought I was looking at Argentia.”

Princess Coup’s 3-year-old daughter, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Moesha (I Am Invincible) - a $650,000 purchase by Rosemont Stud / David Redvers Bloodstock from the Evergreen Stud Farm draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - broke her maiden at Hamilton on September 18. Moody and Coleman have the Dundeel (NZ) half-brother Hawkins - an unraced 2-year-old, too. Consigned by Evergreen Stud Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he was bought by Rosemont Alliance / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) / Moody Racing for $400,000.

A quality broodmare band

Princess Coup may be the star attraction, but Evergreen Stud Farm has a host of other top-line mares in its 60-member team. These include Dorothy Of Oz (Redoute’s Choice), Conversely (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}), Mysterious Light (Fantastic Light {USA}), Porcellanus (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Slippery Satin (Benicio).

Evergreen Stud Farm will have 45 mares to foal down and 15 dry mares.

Dorothy Of Oz is already in foal to Zoustar.

“He’s (Zoustar) dominating on the track and in the sales ring. He’s dominated in the sales ring for a number of years now,” said Bott.

“Adrian’s had a lot of success with the Zoustars.

“Zoustar seems to have clicked with Redoute’s Choice.”

Conversely, who is the dam of the Evergreen Stud-bred and owned Group 1 hero Converge (Frankel {GB}), is in foal on a late cover to Toronado (Ire).

“That follows on the Sadler’s Wells line that’s obviously worked through Frankel,” Bott explained.

“Hopefully, we can get her in foal this season, but we’ll just see what happens.”

Mysterious Light has produced the stakes performer Han Xin (Sepoy), who raced in Malaysia as Ozzy Star. She is in foal on a late cover to Zoustar and will be covered by Newgate Farm’s freshman sire State Of Rest (Ire).

“He was a brilliant race horse, he raced overseas and in Australia,” said Bott.

“She’s a proven mare and we just think it’s a good match, in terms of physical, pedigree and racing-wise.”

Porcellanus has thrown the Listed placegetter Quasimoto (Squamosa), as well as Copartner Ambition (Starspangledbanner) - a three-time winner in Hong Kong. Her Smart Missile colt made $275,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Consigned by Evergreen Stud Farm, he was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

“This is a client’s horse, Jeremy Tan,” Bott said.

“She is also going to State Of Rest.

“It’s a Danehill-cross and the Starspangledbanner seems to have clicked there as well, so we’re very happy with that.”

Success at the right time of year

While much of Evergreen Stud Farm’s time is devoted to the breeding progam in spring, it has enjoyed some success on the track this past week. Oz Empress’ victory capped a remarkable period for the team. On September 15 at Newcastle, Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) - a horse Aaron Bott bred in partnership with Newgate Stallions - won the G3 Cameron H.

“To have two stakes wins in 10 days, it was great and really exciting for everyone here, including the Sui family, our partners; it’s just been fantastic for everyone,” Bott remarked.

“Democracy Manifest was born here at the farm and the mare Slippery Satin is still here. She is in foal to Zousain and at this stage will be going to Artorius. He’s obviously a son of Flying Artie.”

Table: Some of the matings Evergreen is planning in 2023