Duby's Farewell Delight

A mare with good form prior to her convincing victory in June, Duby (5 m Ocean Park - Lost in Dubai, by Dubai Destination) staged a big effort in the $12,000 Te Akau Stud & Racing Rating 65 1200 metres on 8 September at Taupo.

Although defections saw her trim in from barrier 11 to eight, Duby was allowed to find her feet off the pace by Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin and she was seventh of nine at the 600m, but travelled up the rise in good fashion and unflinching to score again with plenty of conviction.

The well related mare was second twice from four starts in her first campaign, including runner-up to stable-mate and Group 3 winner Cornflower Blue (Savabeel), a filly that also finished third to stable-mate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and placed at both Group 2 and listed level.

So, it was no surprise that she registered her second win from the last three starts, but somewhat surprising was the $10.50 & $2.70 tote price on the NZ TAB.

“She's a mare that's always shown a lot of promise, but has also been a bit temperamental and needs everything to fall into place,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Thankfully, it did today and it was a good win.

“She got away cleanly, travelled well, and able to get going in the best part of the track. It was nice ride from Joe (Kamaruddin). It went to plan and she duly obliged.

“She's going off to stud now, so it's good for the Smithies boys to get another win on the board with her. She's a nice mare and from a good family.

“The team at the Uni Barn have done a good job with her and we can look forward to her progeny racing in due course.”

Bred and owned by Joe and Max Smithies at Monovale Farm, Duby is a half-sister to former stable-mate Pinultimate (Pins). Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $36,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, from the draft of Monovale Farm, Pinultimate won three of her seven starts including a four-length victory on debut.

From the family of 2016 Karaka Million 2YO winner Xiong Feng (Iffraaj) and triple Group 1 winner of the Cox Plate, Orr Stakes, and Yalumba Stakes, Maldivian (Zabeel), dam Lost in Dubai (Dubai Destination) has now left six individual winners of 21 races, including Group 1 placed Star Treasure (Lonhro).

For Duby, it was her last crack at the racing game as she prepares for an offshore mating with Coolmore stallion Pierro (Lonhro).

“She's actually flying out on Saturday to Australia, to be mated, and to bow out a winner is fantastic,” said Joe Smithies.

“She's going to then stay over for a year, foal down, and then be mated again to a Coolmore stallion. So, she will come home in foal and with a foal at foot.

“We rate her enough to go to a champion sire like Pierro. It's a family that's been very good to us, and a family we want to keep investing in.

“It's a real running style of family, and we were confident that if we kept racing Duby she might be able to sneak black type. But, we were keen to do a mating share as she's five now.

“Jamie (Richards) is brilliant at placing horses in races that suit them, and you can see why he's the leading trainer and gets the results. There's no doubt about that.

“It's a racing cliché, but I think her ability is better than the form suggests and we'd like to think she might leave progeny that can surpass her own efforts. We're hopeful, anyway.”

Duby was strapped by Sumeet Pillay.

Photo credit - raceimages.co.nz