Duchess Maria four from four

Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) stamped her dominance in the two year old trotting ranks with win number four on the trot, at Addington last night.

In the inaugural running of the $50,000 Group Three The Sundon, driver Nathan Williamson pushed forward early to take up the running. He then handed up to Landman before Kyvalley Ray took over.

“There’s still plenty of racing to come for the two year olds and we were fresh up tonight. She’d had just one quiet trial so I didn’t want to go to war with anything. I was quite happy to take the trail and drive her for her speed,” Williamson said.

Once the field straightened for the run home Williamson utilised Duchess Maria’s quick turn of foot and shot her up the passing lane to win by two lengths from Kyvalley Ray.

“She’s showing she’s got the full package at the moment so hopefully she can hold this form now right through until the end of the year.”

DUCHESS MARIA REPLAY

The winning time of 2-27.5 was 1.5 seconds outside of High Energy’s 2022 fillies record of 2-26.0.

“When she came back in she wasn’t striking up a good rhythm so we played around with a few things, but I’ve been really pleased with her in the last two or three weeks. She’s worked well to bring her to this race but it was in the back of my mind that she could be vulnerable. I was thrilled with the way it worked out and thrilled with the way she did it.”

Williamson says Duchess Maria is the best two year old trotter he’s had anything to do with.

“By far and away on every level. She’s four from four now and they’ve all been group races. She’s in the conversation as the best two year old going round. So it’s exciting for sure.”

The plan is to take Duchess Maria back to Addington on the 24^th October for the $45,000 Group Three Macca Lodge Sires’ Stake Two Year Old Trotting Fillies Classique before racing her in the $120,000 Group One IRT Sires Stakes Two Year Old Trotters Championship on Show Day.

Owned by John and Katrina Price, Duchess Maria is by Father Patrick out of Maria Tsarina, a four win Muscle Hill mare.

“We thought we should diversify and get some trotters. We bought a yearling privately then Peter Lagan offered us Maria Tsarina. She was racing at the time. We really like the Muscle Hill part (of her pedigree) and the fact that there aren’t too many in New Zealand,” Katrina said.

The Prices raced Maria Tsarina for a handful of starts before she was retired and mated with Father Patrick and Duchess Maria is the resulting filly.

“She was bound for the Yearling Sales but a month before the sale she popped out a big splint. She was a bit sore on it so we withdrew her from the sales. In hindsight it was great because that year the Father Patrick fillies didn’t sell at all and we probably would have given her away. So we got lucky in that respect.”

Since Duchess Maria, Maria Tsarina has been a shy breeder, but she is safely in foal to King Of The North.

The Prices have bred, owned and trained plenty of pacers, but owning trotters and watching them race is quite new to the Winton couple.

“I find it quite nerve wracking. With pacers you’re judging whether they have the speed or can they hold on. Whereas with trotters you’re thinking are they going to stay in their gait? It’s a whole different dynamic that you’ve got in the back of your mind.”

Katrina said as a young horse Duchess Maria was ‘a bit funny around the head’ but her yearling preparation changed that.

“The yearling prep was the best thing for her. The only thing is that in the paddock she doesn’t really like relaxing. If she’s going to go to the other side of the paddock she likes to trot there fast. She got a bit bored being turned out and likes to keep busy.”   

It was a good night for Southern Bred Southern Reared horses, with Lakelsa (Captaintreacherous) returning to winning form in the Woodlands Mares’ Spring Sprint Series, beating another SBSR runner Ruby Roe which was also bred by the Prices.

Ruby Roe’s trainer Nathan Williamson said, “She’s definitely a big girl this time in. I’d expect her to really improve on what she did tonight. She’s got races every two to three weeks leading into the Cup meeting. It looks as though she’s in for a nice campaign as well.”

Meanwhile the Price roll continued at Alexandra Park when Confederate (Bettor’s Delight) won his third race.

“The other owners paid a lot of money for him so it was nice for them to pick up the Metro Final ($33,163),” Katrina said.

He’s out of Hartofdixie and was sold at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales for $240,000. The Prices retained a share in the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained three year old.

American Ideal mare Hartofdixie who won six races for Purdon was recently sold to North Canterbury breeder Davinia Harrison.

The Prices have certainly got great value out of Hartofdixie. Her 2021 yearling Erupt Stride was also a sales topper selling to Emilio Rosati for $320,000.

Meanwhile across in Perth the SBSR roll continued with two year old D Mac (Downbytheseaside) winning the $150,000 Golden Slipper.

The colt was developed and qualified for Southland trainer Brad Morris and comes from his grandfather Ronnie McDonald”s breed.

Last night D Mac trained by Gary Hall snr led all the way and won by a comfortable 5.7 metres.

The John Stiven bred Arden’s Horizon (Bettor’s Delight) also won at Gloucester Park. He’s now won fifteen races in Australia and over $200,000.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink