Progressive mare Dashing Duchess added to her burgeoning staying record when she again put her rivals to the sword at Moonee Valley.
The daughter of Tavistock had posted a hollow victory over 2500 metres on the track at her previous appearance and effortlessly completed a course and distance double against open class opposition on Saturday.
The Symon Wilde-trained graduate of Westbury Stud lobbed along near the pace before she was allowed to stride to the front before the turn by rider Jamie Kah.
She surged clear in the run home to win untested by two and three-quarter lengths.
“I thought the strong pace played into her hands,” Wilde’s father Bill said.
“She needs genuine speed and can definitely run a strong 2500 metres.
“We did expect her to run well under 53kg. Jamie rode her beautifully and it all worked out well.
“I think we’ll have a look at the Archer (G.3, 2500m) next month, provided her rating goes up enough to get her into that race.
“There are plenty of other options around. She obviously likes Moonee Valley, so the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (G2, 2500m) is another race we can think about as well.”
Kah believes there is still further improvement to come from Dashing Duchess.
“She’s a very easy ride and in my opinion, I think she’s better when she has something to chase down,” she said.
“When we hit the front, I had to give her a few just to keep her going. Otherwise, she was going to stop. She’s got the ability, but I’d love to see her with something to chase.”
Dashing Duchess has made rapid progress through the grades as she only began her career 12 months ago and now has six wins and three placings from her 12 appearances.
Bred by Stewart Hume, she 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.
The G1 Japan Racing Classic winner and G1 New Zealand Derby third Captain Moonlight also features on the pedigree page.
