Spring staying features are looming large on the horizon for Dashing Duchess (NZ) (Tavistock) after the Kiwi-bred mare’s dominant victory in Saturday’s A$150,000 Italian Chamber of Commerce Handicap (2500m) at Moonee Valley.
It was the second win from as many starts at The Valley for the Tavistock mare, who was a two-length winner against Benchmark 78 opposition two weeks earlier. The step up to open company on Saturday held no fears for the five-year-old, who delivered an even more convincing performance as a $1.90 favourite.
Jockey Jamie Kah had Dashing Duchess travelling comfortably in third for most of the race, which had an injection of pace when Craig Newitt opened up a big lead on Vegas Knight (Declaration of War) down the back of the track.
That runner came back to the field coming up to the home turn, with Dashing Duchess effortlessly gaining ground under a tight hold from Kah.
Dashing Duchess was allowed to quicken at the turn and soon took command, kicking away to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
“She’s a very easy ride,” Kah said. “In my opinion, I think she’s better when she has something to chase down. 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.
“There was no tempo early in the race and I really wanted to have a couple in front of us, so when ‘Froggy’ (Newitt) went forward and opened up that lead I was super happy.”
The Symon Wilde-trained Dashing Duchess has now had 12 starts for six wins, three placings and A$305,340 in stakes.
“I thought the strong pace played into her hands,” Wilde’s father Bill said. “She needs genuine speed and can definitely run a strong 2500m.
“We did expect her to run well today under 53kg. Jamie rode her beautifully and it all worked out well.
“I think we’ll have a look at the Archer (Gr.3, 2500m) next month, provided her rating goes up enough to get her into that race. But there are plenty of other options around. She obviously likes Moonee Valley, so the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2500m) is another race we can think about as well.”
Dashing Duchess is by Tavistock out of the Red Ransom mare Charlotte Russe (NZ). She was offered by Westbury Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where she was passed in with an $80,000 reserve before she sold to Wilde at the Sydney two-year-old sale for $125,000.
