Eternal Pearl swoops late to complete four-timer in G3 Princess Royal Stakes

Eternal Pearl posted a fourth straight win and a second successive G3 victory when getting up close home in the Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Friday, 23 September.

The Frankel three-year-old, shouldering a 3lb penalty following her success in the G3 Prix Minerve at Deauville in mid-August, was held up at the rear of the field by William Buick.

All eight runners came up the far rail in the straight, with Eternal Pearl making smooth headway passing the three-furlong pole before being switched out shortly after to deliver her challenge.

Eternal Pearl quickened powerfully to go second over a furlong from home and closed inexorably on Peripatetic, getting up in the closing strides for a cosy three-quarter length verdict.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Eternal Pearl is a lovely big scopey filly by Frankel and they stay for fun. The one thing she has needed was time to develop and allow her to grow strong enough to stay the way she is doing now.

“We missed the Prix Vermeille to get some more confidence and experience in this race, and now we will look at the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day.”

William Buick said: “It was a slightly messy race. I was in a position where I couldn’t do much about the horses in front of me – Eternal Pearl was a bit slowly away but warmed into her race. She really showed a turn of foot and has a great attitude to go with it.

“This was another step up on what she had done before and she is progressing the whole time. You would expect that the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes will be considered. She wouldn’t want extremes of ground but handles a bit of cut, so that could go well for her.”