Pre-race indicators all point to another high-class performance from Prowess in her delayed introduction to the Melbourne spring carnival.

The multiple Group One winner suffered an early setback in her preparation, but the daughter of Proisir has bounced back and ready to shine in Saturday’s Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley.

Prowess will run in the G2 Crysal Mile at Moonee Valley -image Steve Hart

Prowess struck an unsuitably wet going at Hawera when she finished runner-up in her seasonal debut in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and hasn’t missed a beat since.

“It was a heavy track and she has found good improvement since and we are very happy where she’s at,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains the four-year-old with Roger James.

Prowess will be opposed by only five rivals on Saturday, but it will still provide a stern test.

“It’s a small but quality field with two horses (Tuvalu and Antino) that ran second in Group Ones at their last starts and obviously Mustang Valley who was a Group One winner over a mile (Arrowfield Stud Plate, 1600m) the start before,” Wellwood said.

“It might be a small field, but it’s a very good one. She got into Melbourne late on Wednesday night and reports have been good.

“She has eaten and drunk well and had a quiet little trot and canter on Thursday morning and seems very happy and well.”

As long as expectations are met at The Valley, Prowess will head to Flemington for her next appearance.

“It’s exciting heading forward and she is back on track and with a good run and provided she comes through it well, her main target for the revised spring will be the Champion Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) on November 11,” Wellwood said.

Prowess will be ridden at the weekend by the in-form Mark Zahra, who guided her to victory in last season’s Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

“He’s in terrific form and it’s great to have him back on,” Wellwood said.

The stable will also have major interest at the Pukekohe meeting where their promising filly Sudbina will contest the Gr.2 Jamieson Park Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).

It will pose a significant challenge for the daughter of Almanzor, who was a last-start maiden winner at Taupo.

“It will really suit her getting up to 1400m on a bigger track, but it is a very good field and a big step up for her,” Wellwood said.

“We are going to find out where she stacks up against pretty much the best three-year-old fillies in the country.”

Riccarton is an unlikely option for the lightly tried Sudbina, who doesn’t hold a nomination for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

“We would never say never though, and if she was to blow them away on Saturday then perhaps we might look at the Guineas,” Wellwood said.

“At this stage though, she’ll be staying up here and we’ll look at the fillies’ races over Christmas.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

A degenerative hoof issue has forced star New Zealand mare Prowess to the retirement barn after just a dozen starts.

Kingsclere Stables confirmed the news on Tuesday morning through X: ‘’The whole team at Kingsclere and the ownership group are absolutely devastated to share the news that Prowess’ racing career has been cut short.

‘’She is a once-in-a-lifetime horse that gave us many thrills and changed many people’s lives.

‘’Due to the degree of changes present in the left foot, the mare will require a period of specialist farrier treatment and rehabilitation. Once changes of laminitis have developed to this degree, it is very uncommon for horses to return to the stresses of racing.’’

Trained in partnership by Roger James and Robert Wellwood at Cambridge, Prowess had the final two of her 12 starts in Melbourne during the spring.

She arrived fresh off a G1 win in New Zealand to take the G2 Crystal Mile at The Valley on Cox Plate day before finishing just behind the placegetters in the G1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

A $230,000 yearling purchase from the Karaka sales, the daughter of Proisir will now look to leave her mark in the broodmare barn.

Yulong’s pursuit of Group 1 winners to join a broodmare band that is already the envy of the bloodstock world has continued with the purchase of New Zealand mare Prowess.

Prowess, offered for standalone sale on New Zealand-based auction portal Gavelhouse.com, fetched $1,452,500.

An insatiable appetite for breeding prospects at the top end of the market ultimately proved too much for a New Zealand bidder after an online game of cat and mouse.

The bidding was won by “Downtown”, the same name used by Yulong to buy several other horses on that platform, including Entriviere.