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Long-time friends chasing another Group One

3 minute read

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.

Duchess Kate winning the Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes
Duchess Kate winning the Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes Picture: Race Images PN

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.
NZ Racing News

Trentham

Saturday, 30th January 2016

8
16:49
(local)

Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (G3)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN
NZD $70,000
1600m TURF GOOD
8
16:49
(local)
NZD $70,000
1600m GOOD

Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (G3)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN

This G3 mile for 3yo fillies saw the two runners that made a sharp wide move across the top and challenged at the 400m, namely Duchess Kate and Bella Court, end up forming the quinella. Duchess Kate won by a long neck in 1:36.92 after sitting handy the outer before looming large and that clearly left her with a tad more fight the closing stages. She was winning her third race from seven starts today and recorded her first blacktype success with the promise of more to come. She is versatile having won both directions and should run middle distance with her second dam being the quality mare Eva Grace (11 wins including once at G1 in a blistering 2:12.21 for 2200m of the Avondale Cup of 1985). Bella Court was a huge second as she made a wide run across the top from eleventh and sustained it to lead narrowly centre track at the 400m. Once headed by a small margin at the 200m by the eventual winner she fought ever so hard considering where she came from and how far from home the move came. Third and half a length back only was Strada Cavallo that ran home strongly the last bit after sitting midfield and crucially improving wide across the top. She was G1 placed last Spring against her own age and sex so knows how to close out a mile at this level. Her stablemate Lauberhorn after sitting handy got held up turning for home with so many moves around her but then got through to third at the 100m before missing a G3 placing by a nose. Totally forgive Coldplay as she never got a proper crack at them the closing stages and had heaps to offer. She got back on the inner and then lost her place across the top before surging through at the 200m but trying to get out into clear air at the same time. Black Sav ran on late from the rear trio too late and would prefer a stronger run race. Fame Seeker did well late after things went against her both at the start and then across the top plus she got blocked at the 400m. Goodsav wilted a tad late after moving up second the outer midrace from the midfield and then being part of a challenging cluster across the top to the home turn. Maritimo the peacemaker wilted but will be an improver as she had not raced for a while. Deedee Panache caught the eye late after being last and deepest at the 200m. Alarmist was not disgraced from second last the 400m and Chic, after being last on settling made some ground closer in. Firebird Flyer for a maiden did okay for thirteenth beaten just under four and a half lengths as she was wide then very deep at stages so to not stop but box on was brave. Hot In High Heels did not put her best foot forward today but she needs clear air all the time so give her another chance next time out before making an assessment at blacktype level. Starstripe was outclassed and this is her second flop in a blacktype race so the jury must remain still out with no proof yet she can cope. Perhaps being ridden quieter may help next time out. The winning time of 1:36.92 was not the fastest time on the card with the race that followed this clocking 1:36.52 (or more than two and a half lengths superior). A better comparison was a maiden mile held two races prior ran 1:36.96 so it explains why a lot of early moves came across the top as the pace eased dramatically at this stage. Duchess Kate and Bella Court are fillies with more to come this season and beat into third an already G1 placed filly in Strada Cavallo. Coldplay is the filly to be on next time as she may well have burst through and won if proper clear air had eventuated. Her habit of now missing the start is a concern as she earlier in her career did jump away well and then could unleash without traffic ahead or around her. Lots of other eyecatching efforts from Black Sav, Fame Seeker and Dee Panache from a running on perspective. This looks a legitimate guide for the rest of the season for middle distance and up to and including the G1 NZ Oaks plus some of these fillies may appear in Australia at Sydney, Queensland and Adelaide.



FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 9. DUCHESS KATE (NZ) 3yo F
SAVABEEL (AUS) - ROYAL PRIZE (NZ)
MATTHEW CAMERON
STEPHEN AUTRIDGE
$7.3
56.5kg
Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: M J Whitby)

Sales Information

2nd 5. BELLA COURT (NZ) 3yo F
PER INCANTO (USA) - BELLE CHANTECLER (NZ)
DARRYL BRADLEY
LISA LATTA
$20.2
56.5kg
K J Hickman Onzm

Sales Information

3rd 2. STRADA CAVALLO (NZ) 3yo F
ALAMOSA (NZ) - ABENROAD (NZ)
CHRIS JOHNSON
GRAHAM RICHARDSON
$7.9
56.5kg
R T Anaru, Mrs R E Armstrong, J P Baker, T Basile, E J Carter, T Chee, M Delany, F B N Fox, H Fransz, C Gilson, J Grigg, Nearco Stud Ltd, J & W M Oliver, E & Mrs M Thornton

Sales Information

4th 10. LAUBERHORN (NZ) 3yo F
SWISS ACE (AUS) - NEVAEH (NZ)
MARK HILLS
GRAHAM RICHARDSON
$34.3
56.5kg

Sales Information

5th 4. I AM COLDPLAY (NZ) 3yo F
SAVABEEL (AUS) - FORTY TWO BELOW (NZ)
OPIE BOSSON
MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN
$3.2
56.5kg

Sales Information

6th 13. BLACK SAV (NZ) 3yo F
SAVABEEL (AUS) - SHOWILEO (AUS)
JOHNATHON PARKES
LISA LATTA
$6.9
56.5kg

Sales Information

7th 12. FAME SEEKER (NZ) 3yo F
SHOWCASING (GB) - DAZZLING WALK (NZ)
GRANT COOKSLEY
L NOBLE
$31
56.5kg

Sales Information

8th 7. GOODSAV (NZ) 3yo F
SAVABEEL (AUS) - MILLILILLI (NZ)
SAMANTHA COLLETT
PATRICK CAMPBELL
$10.5
56.5kg

Sales Information

9th 3. MARITIMO (NZ) 3yo F
PINS (AUS) - MIRACLE MISS (NZ)
LEE MAGORRIAN
GRAEME & DEBBIE ROGERSON
$34.9
56.5kg

Sales Information

10th 6. DEEDEE PANACHE (NZ) 3yo F
DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - LADY WINIFRED (NZ)
R J MYERS
JEFF LYNDS
$14.8
56.5kg

Sales Information

11th 15. ALARMIST (NZ) 3yo F
SHOCKING (AUS) - LADIES CHOICE (NZ)
DYLAN TURNER
D & C BOTHWELL
$74.6
56.5kg

Sales Information

12th 8. CHIC (NZ) 3yo F
SAVABEEL (AUS) - MISSPRO O'REILLY (NZ)
JONATHAN RIDDELL
GUY LOWRY & GRANT CULLEN
$54.7
56.5kg

Sales Information

13th 19. FIREBIRD FLYER (NZ) 3yo F
STRAVINSKY (USA) - MARGAUX BELLE (NZ)
MASA TANAKA
JEFF LYNDS
$56.5
56.5kg

Sales Information

14th 14. HOT IN HIGH HEELS (AUS) 3yo F
HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - FAIRYGEM (NZ)
CAMERON LAMMAS
PHILLIP STEVENS
$10.8
56.5kg

Sales Information

15th 11. STARSTRIPE (AUS) 3yo F
STARCRAFT (NZ) - OUR TIGRESS (AUS)
ROBERT HANNAM
MICHAEL MORONEY & ANDREW CLARKEN
$38.2
56.5kg

Sales Information

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