by Paul Courts
IT’S been a long, expensive exercise, but Arm A Princess will make a highly-anticipated return to racing at Globe Derby tomorrow night.
The talented daughter of Art Major has been sidelined since a horrific fall at Melton last July which was the result of being checked on the home turn.
Along with crashing to the ground, Arm A Princess was run over by a filly following her, while a second youngster crashed into Arm A Princess’ fallen driver, Jason Lee.
Stating the ordeal has left “a sour taste” in his mouth, respected trainer Lance Holberton is thrilled to have the three-year-old ready to race.
“It’s been a massive battle just to get her back,” Holberton said. “She devastated her knees in the fall, they were shot.
“She spent three weeks at the Werribee vet hospital, where they operated on her twice. She still has grit from the track behind her knee as they can’t get at it to wash or scrape it out.
“The whole thing from start to the end has left sour taste in my mouth and I dread the idea of ever races a horse in Melton again.”
Having trialled impressively last weekend, Arm A Princess is poised to complete a triumphant comeback after drawing to lead from the pole.
“She trialled last Sunday which was just as much about her fitness as it was testing her confidence,” Holberton said. “She did really well and will be hard to beat this weekend.
“That said, she is still in need of race fitness and will improve on whatever she does this time around.”
With the Southern Cross series her main aim, Arm A Princess may also make another trip across the border during the next few weeks.
“The Southern Cross in July is what we will be building her up for,” Holberton said. “I’ll also look to find a suitable race in Victoria to pick up her bonus.
“It’s cost about $30,00 to get her back racing after the fall, so we’ve got to try and get that back and the Vicbred bonus will help.”
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