Duchess destroys the boys in Avon Valley

Sunday, 14 May 2023 | Duchess Of Gossip didn’t race until she was an Easter 3yo but was quickly into stride to win third time out at Northam last Wednesday.

The All American filly didn’t just win, course broadcaster Darren McAullay declared she destroyed them after a gun ride by Brad Parnham.  She tracked the speed and surged to the lead in the straight before going further ahead to score by three lengths from Red Rebel (Bon Hoffa) and Stay Astern (Astern).

Duchess Of Gossip (Photo / Western Racepix) is a homebred for Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg in partnership with Kevin Johnson and Simon Lill and she started an odds-on favourite following a never-nearer fourth at Kalgoorlie and a close second at Pinjarra in April.

She is the first and only foal from the Peters Investments-bred mare Regal Gossip (Dylan Thomas) who wasn’t sighted in two starts wearing the cerise and while colours.  But she did come good winning twice at the provincials for Ascot trainer Russell Stewart.

It was a no-brainer to retain Duchess Of Gossip with a Peters Investments pedigree loading with black-type.  Her dam Regal Gossip is a half-sister to six winners with Cohort (Scenic) the best of the them with a Listed double in the 2008 Belmont Guineas and Belmont Classic.  Her half-sisters included Dark Miss (More Than Ready) and Red Amber (Dylan Thomas) who finished second in a LR Burgess Queen Stakes and LR Natasha Stakes respectively.

Second-dam Dark Amber (Marscay) is a half-sister to USA Stakes winner Western Scout (Gone West) and the dam of Perth-based Grand Chevalier (Flying Spur) who won a LR Ngawyni Stakes (1000m) on debut for trainer John Price in 2001.

Duchess Of Gossip is trained by Dion Luciani and is the latest of All American’s 242 individual winners.  She was the second 3yo midweek winner by him in as many weeks following her stablemate Mack Mack at Belmont on May 3.

Mack Mack claimed his fourth win in the Drummond Golf Hcp (1600m) as a long odds-on favourite under Willie Pike.  Bred by Geisel Park, he races for Loloma Farms owner Kevin Fowler and his prizemoney currently stands at $177,500 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $76,000.

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).