Duchess Megxit's season not over yet

By Michael Guerin

The Duchess might be getting some icing on her cake.

Because even after standout filly Duchess Megxit confirmed she is the best of her crop coming from a second line draw to win the $250,000 Tennant Engineering NZ Oaks at Addington on Friday night her season might not be over.

The glamour girl revelled in being driven cold again and was too good for Classic Elegance and an improved All You Need Is Me, with favourite Treacherous Baby fading late after having no luck.

While the leaders chopped and changed up front driver Zachary Butcher relaxed midfield, getting carted into the race without having to think too much.

The writing was on the wall a long way from home and she was too good in a win that could well earned her Filly of the Year honours for trainer Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

But she might still get to put icing on that cake as Phelan suggests Duchess Megxit’s season isn’t over.

“I am not sure she will go to the Queen of Hearts (Dec 13) but we are definitely aiming her at the Golden Gait on December 20,” says Phelan.

“She will be up against boys but she is likely to draw barrier 1 over the mile so it could be a good race for her.”

Earlier in the night favourites Meant To Be (Purdon/Phelan again) and Habibti Pat won their Aces for juvenile trotters, with Meant To Be also returning home to Auckland for the Golden Gait.

His southern trip seems to have made Meant To Be and while he had a gawk around during the opener on Friday he seems far more comfortable when actually going full speed.

He is $1.35 to win his Golden Gait and won’t be disadvantaged by the preferential draw as he starts on the unruly anyway.

Habbiti Pat’s win will earn her two-year-old trotting filly of the year and a break to put some muscle on her slight frame won’t do her any harm.

Marketplace is another heading to the paddock after her capped a wonderful preparation winning the Betavet Ace Of Spades even though he didn’t seem to revel being in front, his ears going backwards and forwards throughout.

“I am looking forward to giving him a break but we are so proud of what he has achieved,” said trainer Regan Todd. 

While he is used to winning the top level two-year-old pacing fillies winner Stella Rouge helped turns things around for Stonewall Stud after a frustrating month.

Driver Tim Williams worked she straight to the front and the controlled the speed and gaps behind him perfectly to ensure when arch rival Captains Mistress came to challenge she couldn’t drop on to his back.

She is anything but the finished product Stella Rouge but she looks an Oaks filly for certain and she capped a wonderful night in which Bazooka and Renegade also raced into contention for next Friday’s NZ Derby.