Duchess Maria expected to go five from five at Winton today

By Jonny Turner 

Duchess Maria will begin her quest to make up for lost time in unfamiliar circumstances at Winton on Thursday.

The unbeaten square-gaiting star will start for the first time in almost a year after injury put her most promising career on hold.

Unbeaten in four starts at Group 3 level, the three-year-old should round up her lower grade rivals at Winton with ease in Race 7, the Goodman Plumbing Ltd Handicap Trot (4.14pm).  

That's if everything goes to plan for trainer-driver Nathan Williamson.

"I would say her class will be able to pull her through most situations that might play out in the race,"

"There are a couple of unknowns there, it is her first start in almost a year and her first standing start."

"I don't expect either of them to be a worry as she has had a good build-up and she has the right temperament to handle all that."

“She is very healthy and very well, so I am expecting her to race accordingly.”

"But you never know what might happen on the day."

Thursday's assignment is very much a starting point for Duchess Maria, who has a long list of Group races to be aimed at over the next three to four months.

"Her first aim is the Sires Stakes Classique at Addington in a fortnight."

"She was going to go to the Southern Trotting Oaks but it has disappeared so we’ll see after that."

"There are plenty of nice three-year-old trotting races, we will aim at the fillies' features but we won't be scared to take on the boys either."

Williamson also starts Off The Canvas and Shakedown from his stable at Winton.

Off The Canvas chased hard behind his up-and-coming stablemate Rakmacknra in his second in a Southern Surge Final at the same track recently.

"We were going to freshen Off The Canvas up but he seems to be thriving."

"His work has been good and he looks a nice chance."

"Shakedown has settled back into the barn pretty well, this looks a more suitable race for him and hopefully he can be thereabouts."

In something of a head-scratcher, Williamson has just four drives at Winton.

His two outside steers are both for the Brett Gray stable in Foxing Easton and Jaccka Jim.

"Foxing Easton actually ran one of his best races when he ran fifth in the Southern Surge."

"He was just unlucky how things panned out on the turn and had to come very wide."

"This is a bit of a drop back from that and he's a good each-way hope."

"I haven't been driving Jaccka Jim lately but I know Brett has a bit of time for him."

"He is down in grade too and should be right there."

Williamson was to partner Jackson in Thursday's opener but the pacer has been scratched.