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Stephen Autridge and Max Whitby have already enjoyed Group One success at Trentham and the spirited filly Duchess Kate is on target to give them further cause for celebration.
The Matamata trainer and the Sydney-based owner combined with longshot A Touch of Ruby to win the Thorndon Mile two years ago and their current star is now a $16 chance for the Wellfield New Zealand Oaks on March 19.
Her price was trimmed from $21 after she beat a competitive line-up of fillies in Saturday’s Gr.3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes on the capital city course.Autridge was training in his own right when A Touch Of Ruby earned Group One glory and his first winner in his Te Akau partnership with Jamie Richards was also a Whitby runner - Stella Di Paco in last year’s Listed Castletown Stakes.
Duchess Kate headed south with a last-start defeat of the talented Hiflyer to her credit and she dug deeply to continue her winning form under stable jockey Matt Cameron.“She pinged the machine and Matt got her to relax beautifully,” Richards said. “She’s very tough and it’s great to have a really good filly on the way up. Max and Stevie have been good buddies for years so it’s a great result.”
Duchess Kate sat one off the fence behind the pace and the sister to the multiple Group Two winner Saavoya fought tooth and nail down the straight for the third win of her seven start career.“She put herself right there and travelled nicely and found the line well,” Cameron said. “She’s still got her quirks, but she’s getting better so it’s onwards and upwards.”
Bella Court had every chance after she was on the winner’s tail on the turn while Strada Cavallo finished off well for third ahead of her stablemate Lauberhorn. Coldplay finished fifth after being tightened for room in the run home.