Patience continues to reward the connections of the gifted Tavistock mare Dashing Duchess.
She only began her career 12 months ago and has since made rapid progress from trainer Symon Wilde’s stable with five wins and three placings from 11 appearances.
Dashing Duchess posted her latest success at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she produced a stout staying performance to triumph over 2500 metres in the hands of multiple Group 1-winning rider Mark Zahra.
Wilde is confident the Westbury Stud graduate will continue to progress and make her mark at black type level.
“I think she’s a Group class staying mare, she definitely fits that category,” he said.
“The better ground was a factor for her and she’s showed her toughness.
“She is building a really, really good record, she’s no supermodel but she can gallop.”
Dashing Duchess jumped well to sit on the leader’s quarters and strode to the front 600 metres from home.
She was hotly challenged near the turn and responded in style to draw clear and win by two lengths.
“She was strong all the way, I waited for the right time to take over and it was a very good and tough run,” Zahra said.
Bred by Stewart Hume, Dashing Duchess was offered by Westbury at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale but failed to meet her $80,000 reserve and subsequently sold to Wilde for A$125,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
A half-sister to multiple winner and G2 Adelaide Cup placegetter Poppiholla, she is out of the late Red Ransom mare Charlotte Ruse and the family of the G1 Japan Racing Classic winner and G1 New Zealand Derby third Captain Moonlight.
