Duchess in Diamonds

Three-start Sweet Lou filly Duchess Megxit was widely tipped by Northern harness racing scribes as a horse with a chance of winning today’s $110,000 G1 The Box Seat Ace of Diamonds at Addington.

The punters thoughts proved to be spot on when the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained filly in the hands of Zachery Butcher stormed home to beat Treacherous Baby by four and a half lengths with Louies Girl a length and a half back in third.

“She’s gone some really good races up north. They went hard early today and that really suited us,” Butcher told Nigel Armstrong of Harness Racing Unhinged.

The race was packed full of action and Butcher played the patient hand. Once Duchess Megxit balanced up she was too strong for her eleven rivals.

The winning time of 2-23.2. Millwood Nike holds the New Zealand record for two year old fillies. Her time of 2-20.3 was set at Addington last year.

The win was Zachery’s nineteenth Group One win.

DUCHESS MEGXIT REPLAY

Butcher who’s driven a host of winners for the Purdon/Phelan Clevedon stable was full of compliments for the wonderful job the stable does.

“They make you feel bullet proof. They just give you so much confidence. It’s just a privilege and an honour to be part of the team.”

Duchess Megxit is the first foal out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Kensington Kate which won three races for Robert Dunn. The filly is raced by the Patterson Bros Syndicate, the Estate of MJ Ward who bred her and the Centaurus Syndicate (Southern boys) whom Butcher promptly saluted after crossing the line.

“I had to give the boys the thumbs up. They were pretty happy. They’ve had their kids at the race twice up in Auckland and wanted to go and get them a free Coke if the horse won which I couldn’t manage so it was good to get that one,” Butcher said.

It was a master stroke from the Northern training partnership to bring a filly south with limited experience but that’s the sort of move you expect from the pair.

“She’s got a bit of brilliance and got the run to suit her. They went hard and not having too many starts worked in her favour a bit and she was driven that way,” Barry said, adding that Duchess Megxit has a big future. “We’ll give her a wee break and get her ready for the February races. She’s got a big season ahead of her next year.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink