“Great Duchess down the outside..!”
Our little girl stretches out at the 100m, passing her sizeable rivals with a distinguishable stride, that floating movement we’ve seen before. Duchess has inherited her big action from her Mum, our homebred, Great Dame.
Greg attended Blue Gum Farm stallion parade in 2014. Second season shuttle stallion Canford Cliffs caught his eye – a perfect match for Great Dame. Great Duchess was the Dames’ second foal, the first a Colt, a big Colt. Imagine our faces when Dame presented us with her new offspring, a proud Mum with her tiny little filly! Scratching our heads at first, she came across as an unassuming type.. a short lived assumption! Duchess bought a feisty, robust attitude to the Lodge keeping us on our toes, a petite stature with a colossal character. She quickly proved looks aren’t everything, a true professional on the track, loving her work and showing consistent form from her debut at Sale running 2nd by 3/4L to the $850k Fastnet Rock X Dance Mix filly “Downloads” and then breaking her maiden, again at Sale, four weeks later.
This campaign started late March at Cranbourne, resuming and taking home 2nd place. The Winter Finals were always in our sights, getting her there and making her mark. Racing at Geelong in the lead up was her first experience on a heavy track, a heavy 10, she floated over the top to take home 2nd place, wowing us all again. Flemington finals arrived and we were on our way, routine essential, everything as it needs to be. On track Duchess is always professional with a slight hint of attitude yet settled, parading well, last instructions given to Jye and they’re on their way.
Owners and team quiet as they approach the turn, appreciative of the Flemington experience, one afforded to them by their modest filly… then that distinguishable stride… screams, cheers, everyone jumping up and down.. Great Duchess crossed the line, she did it, Great Duchess won.
Gregs’ home breds’ are proving themselves as city winners, as did I Did It Again. Bossy Dame (Street Boss X Great Dame) Filly is currently in work, Larneuk Studs Wolf Cry X Great Dame Colt is on his way and we are happy to announce Great Dame is in foal to Swettenham Studs dual Group 1 winner, Trust In A Gust.