Duchess delivers for Geisel Park

Sunday, 9 July 2023 | Duchess Of Gossip confirmed what a good thing beaten she was last start with a rewarding victory as a short-priced favourite at Belmont on Saturday.

The All American filly produced a brilliant turn of foot for Willie Pike that propelled them to a three-length lead at the furlong.  With the race run and won, Pike took a hold to score with her ears pricked from Miss Drakova (Capitalist).

Duchess Of Gossip (Photo / Western Racepix) was gunning for a hat-trick last month when she was left on a limb and couldn’t counter a last-stride dive by War Gem (War Chant) at Belmont.

Her six starts to date have harvested $152,652 in prizemoney including Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $76,250 for Geisel Park owner-breeder Eddie Rigg and trainer Dion Luciani.

“Willie was riding her for the first time but we never give him instructions,” stable foreman Ian Glading revealed.  “I just said don’t hunt her out of the gates because she can overdo it.

“Willie held her up and she really found the line after he let her down.  She’s got gears and a will-to-win and that’s what separates the good horses.  It will take her a long way.”

Raced by Rigg in partnership with Kevin Johnson and Simon Lill, she will be a valuable addition to Geisel Park’s future broodmare portfolio being the only daughter of Peters Investments mare Regal Gossip (Dylan Thomas).

Her dam is a half-sister to a half-dozen Peters Investments-bred winners including Cohort (LR Belmont Guineas & LR Belmont Classic) and the Stakes-placed fillies Dark Miss (More Than Ready) and Red Amber (Dylan Thomas).

“I worked across and sat outside the leader,” Pike reported.  “I didn’t think it would pan out that easily and I knew we would be hard to beat.  She was coiled up and they would have had to sprout wings to catch us.”

All American (Red Ransom) stands for a $4,400 service fee at Geisel Park alongside newcomer Aysar (Deep Field) at $8,800 and Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) at $8,250.  All fees (inc GST).