Duchess Maria to have a hit out tomorrow

Trainer Nathan Williamson is confident Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) can finally get her three year old campaign underway after resumption was put on hold and she was scratched at Winton last Thursday.

“We’re just working out what’s going on with her. She just had a wee hoof complaint which has been her problem. This hopefully is not the same or as serious as the last problem. I’m confident she can come right. She worked well this morning (Thursday) so that’s a step in the right direction. I’m taking her to Winton for a bit of a hit out on Saturday morning and that will tell us whether we can go up the road (to Addington) on Friday,” Williamson said.

Friday’s race is the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Classique over 1980 metres.

As a two year old Duchess Maria won four from four, all Group Three races. Her last start at Addington was nearly twelve months ago when she beat Kyvalley Ray in ‘The Sundon’.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink