Duchess ascends to the throne in G1 Queen Of Hearts

She might be called Duchess, but New Zealand harness racing has tonight anointed a new queen of the pacing ranks with a stunning performance from Duchess Megxit (Sweet Lou) in the G1 $100,000 Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park.

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained three-year-old filly was a surprise inclusion in the nominations earlier this week, but she more than justified the faith placed in her by connections on the back of a typical ice cold steer from the man himself, Zachary Butcher.

There was much conjecture as to how the hotly-contested 30th running for the jewel in the crown of the North Island mares pacing calendar, and it’s fair to say in the first 200m, anything the pundits had predicted in the lead up to the event went well and truly out the window as Bob Butt flipped every script imaginable.

Having her second start at ‘the ribbon of light’ on the back of a phenomenal first-up success seven days ago, Princess Meritaten (A Rocknroll Dance) was set alight from the outside of the front row to lead on her ear.

After walking them through some soft sectionals in the first 1400m, Butt looked to have bloused his peers with a cunning piece of reinsmanship.

Never one to panic, Butcher and race favourite Duchess Megxit were ten lengths off the lead duo and in what appeared to be a hopeless position as Zachary set the only filly in the 12 horse field alight with 800m left to run.

“She is going to have to run the hands off the clock to win from there,” exclaimed race caller, Aaron White as the pair made their move three and four wide around them.

It was soon apparent upon entering the Alexandra Park straight that this was a race in two, with Princess Meritaten and Duchess Megxit, both regal in name and ability, set about grinding one another down in a fight to the finish.

In the end, it was the filly who rose to the occasion with a phenomenal display of effortless speed and power to claim the third G1 of her short career at start number seventeen.

DUCHESS MEGXIT REPLAY

As much as Butcher would have preferred to be undoubtedly steering Mantra Blue to G1 glory in what would have been his maiden G1 success as a trainer, it would have been a welcome tonic to combine for yet another G1 with the old firm of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

Having started off the early part of the season picking up G1 wins for fun, co-trainer Scott Phelan was on hand to bask in what is the ninth G1 triumph for the training partnership in the calendar year.

“It was a great drive by Bob, but to run down his mare was a very great effort really,” said the fillies co-trainer, Scott Phelan post race.

“She’s a good filly and we all know how good she is, and she proved that tonight. Barry thought this would be a good race for her and it’s all paid off in the end and she has had a great season,” he said.

For complete Alexandra Park results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink