Duchess Maria on her way to Oaks

As expected, Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) proved too classy for her rivals in the $11,000 Macca Lodge/Fitzgerald Contracting Handicap Trot at Ascot Park today.

After settling back Duchess Maria got a nice cart into the race when Ah Dinnae Ken improved at the 900. She made her move heading out of the final bend and when she balanced up for the run home, she powered to the line and beat Gasherbrum by three and three quarters of a length.

DUCHESS MARIA REPLAY

“She got another race into her and got the job done. It was very difficult to get a line on her with that weather the way it was. It was just the perfect run for her going forward,” said trainer driver Nathan Williamson.

The $120,000 Group One Trotting Oaks at Addington in twelve days time is her next target and for the first time it’ll be run over 2600 metres from the mobile.

“She could have gone to the Hambletonian tomorrow but a mobile mile leading up to the Oaks – I just wanted her to drop the bit and relax, do it all nice and proper and she’s doing that. She can certainly zoom out of the gate and be driven aggressively as well.”

This year’s fillies feature is likely to be the strongest in years.

“Our Col is the one to beat. She’s just so fast and she’s a bigger stronger version of Duchess really. Craig’s horse Imperious Girl is very talented so it’s got to be a good chance. Then we’ve got Becky’s Girl who’s a wee bit of a silent achiever. I think tomorrow’s race (at Ashburton) might put her in the frame. It’s going to be an exciting race and it’ll come down to the run on the day and the luck in the running.”

Any thoughts on the 2600 metre trip for Duchess Maria?

“She can do a little bit of everything. She’s definitely a speed horse rather than a stayer. That was another reason I was thinking we’d get a couple of races into her locally with a bit of distance.”

Fourteen days after the Oaks Duchess Maria’s next target will be the $200,000 Group One Trotting Derby. It’s also over 2600 metres from a mobile, and males will be in the mix.

“I think the fillies will have the measure of the boys.”

Over the last decade and a half Williamson has been blessed to have had a handful of talented trotting fillies.

“Potentially she’s right up there. Obviously Dark Horse was the most phenomenally talented one we’ve had, but this girl would be right there. Dark Horse was an incredibly talented horse but she never won a big one. I know this horse has won four Group races already, but it would be nice to add a Group One to her CV.”

And when asked if she has the speed of Dark Horse?

“She does. She might even have a bit more. She’s incredibly fast.”

Duchess Maria is out of Maria Tsarina (Muscle Hill) a daughter of Empress Maria a half-sister to Katy Galleon who’s the dam of 2017 New Zealand Trotting Oaks winner Chevron Express.

Interestingly the other favourite for the New Zealand Oaks – Our Col is also by Father Patrick out of a Muscle Hill mare, as are classy trotters Meant To Be and Illicit Love. So there’s something clicking there.

Maria Tsarina won four races for Paul Nairn before she was bought by John and Katrina Price in August 2020. They raced her for three starts before retiring her.

At stud Duchess Maria is the only foal she’s produced. She’s missed twice to Father Patrick and once to Majestic Son and King Of The North, she slipped a Father Patrick foal and had a dead foal to King Of The North. She was mated with Walner without any luck so she’s been recently served again by Father Patrick.

Meanwhile Diva Bee, also trained by Williamson, was supposed to have started in the same race today but she’s been unexpectedly retired.

“Unfortunately she injured her knee during the week. She’s a horse we never saw the best of. I’m sure she would have been competitive today.”

Harnesslink understands Diva Bee who is a half-sister to Gus, will be mated to Majestic Son the sire of Gus.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink