Princess Rules and The Egyptian set for another clash at Yeppoon

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Nick Walsh is eyeing a hit and run trip to Brisbane with Rockhampton mare Princess Rules if she completes a hat-trick of wins at Yeppoon on Tuesday.

Princess Rules - a Bobby El-Issa mount - is set for a showdown with another in-form sprinter The Egyptian in the TAB Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

Walsh had also intended to start his highly rated Aleysa’s Dream but decided against accepting after a below par blood count last week.

“I was going to run Aleysa’s Dream but she had a bit of a nasal discharge so I got her blood taken and it wasn’t quite right,” Walsh said.

“Instead, I’ll send Aleysa’s Dream to Brisbane for a no-metro win next start when she’s recovered and Princess Rules will go with her.”

Princess Rules was originally trained by Lyle Wright, winning two of her first four starts before being transferred to Walsh last year.

The daughter of Tycoon Ruler has won six of her 14 starts for Walsh including her past two wins at Mackay.

Princess Rules narrowly beat The Egyptian in an 1100-metre Class 6 at Mackay on July 24 before repeating the victory when the pair clashed in an Open sprint over 1100 metres at Mackay on August 26.

“She’s going good and had a freshen up before her recent Mackay win,” Walsh said.

“She’s come on really well since her last win and her work has been tremendous.

“It’s a drop back in distance to 1000 metres but I don’t think that will bother her and she doesn’t have to lead.

“I think she’s better when ridden just off the speed.”

Princess Rules is part-owned by Rockhampton grazier Gavin Milner, who bred her before buying her back for $39,000 at the Capricorn Yearling sales.

“Gavin normally has about seven horses with me at any one time and he breeds a lot of his horses as well,” Walsh said.

Walsh has only been training for about two years but is making his mark among the Central Queensland training ranks.

He combines training with a full-time job as a salesman for Greensteel - a steel distribution company in Rockhampton.

Walsh’s day starts around 2.30am working at the stables before heading off to work at 8am and returns home around 7pm each night after completing stable chores of an afternoon.