Jockey Opie Bosson has delivered an ominous warning to Princess Coup's rivals in the Kelt Capital Stakes saying the mare can only improve on her Stoney Bridge Stakes win.The $NZ2 million ($A1.68 million) Kelt Capital Stakes on October 4 at Hastings, the scene of Saturday's win, is run over 2040m emulating the Cox Plate course at Moonee Valley.Princess Coup came from last on the turn to trounce her rivals in the Group One Stoney Bridge (1600m) and firmed from $15 to $10 for the Cox Plate.The perf

Jockey Opie Bosson has delivered an ominous warning to Princess Coup's rivals in the Kelt Capital Stakes saying the mare can only improve on her Stoney Bridge Stakes win.

The $NZ2 million ($A1.68 million) Kelt Capital Stakes on October 4 at Hastings, the scene of Saturday's win, is run over 2040m emulating the Cox Plate course at Moonee Valley.

Princess Coup came from last on the turn to trounce her rivals in the Group One Stoney Bridge (1600m) and firmed from $15 to $10 for the Cox Plate.

The performance also promoted Princess Coup to clear favouritism for the Kelt.

"She's going to improve a lot with the run," Bosson told NZPA.

"When she's pulled up, she's had a bit of a puff."

A top showing in the Kelt will cement a start in the $A3 million Cox Plate for Princess Coup.

"She's racing well and she will be peaking for those two races," Bosson said.

Princess Coup won last year's Kelt and Bosson was in no doubt she was again the one to beat after Saturday's race.

The five-year-old mare, by Encosta De Lago, settled second-last of the 14 runners after being slow from the barrier and with 600m to run was last.

She was the widest on the home turn but once into full stride she stormed home to score, with surprising ease, by 1-1/4 lengths as the $5.30 second favourite.

"She gave the rest of the field a head start, came from the back and beat them," Bosson said.

"I hit a flat spot turning for home. But once I got to the outside, and balanced her up, I knew she was going to beat them. She was way too good in the end."

Princess Coup is no stranger to Australia and last spring ran third in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) before being unplaced in the Melbourne Cup but trainer Mark Walker refrained from nominating her for either event this year.

Princess Coup was on Sunday at $3.50 with TAB bookmakers to win the Kelt while Saturday's runner-up Nom Du Jeu was the $4.50 second favourite.

Nom Du Jeu sustained a strong finish on Saturday after being caught three wide and mid-field. He raced a little keenly in the middle stages and rider Noel Harris believed the horse would be all the better for the race.

Three-quarters of a length away third was the favourite Fritzy Boy who was far from disgraced.

Red Ruler, the third favourite, was ridden handier than usual under instruction from connections.

Jockey Jason Waddell suggested a more patient ride should be adopted next time and recommended the addition of blinkers.

The winner of the AJC Australian Derby in the autumn, Nom Du Jeu is a $26 chance for the Cox Plate with Weekend Hussler favourite with TAB Sportsbet at $2.25 ahead of Pompeii Ruler at $8 and Samantha Miss who shares the third line of betting with Princess Coup.

NZPA WGT