A brisk workout over 1000m between races at Tauranga on Saturday has quality sprinter Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) ready for her first-up assignment in the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa this coming Saturday.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare has come on in leaps and bounds from her fourth placing behind Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in an open 1100m trial at Taupo earlier in the month with Ken Kelso pleased with the progress she has made.

“We’ve given her the two exhibition gallops and a trial to get her ready and she’s pretty forward for the Foxbridge,” he said.

“She worked nicely at Tauranga over the 1000m with Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock).

“She was actually supposed to follow him and Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) but when Loire held them up and wouldn’t go, we went with Sherwood Forest instead.

“We’re happy with her and safely through Te Rapa she will then go to the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) at Hastings.”

Kelso also advised that star mare Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) would have a hit-out at the Te Teko trials next Thursday before starting fresh-up in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on September 19.