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| Sumita Pawar |
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Yulong's collection of top-quality race and breeding mares in the country has been further expanded with the recent acquisition of Duais, a multiple Group One winner.
This week, the Edward Cummings-trained mare has been secured by a breeding company based in Victoria for an undisclosed sum. The mare, named Duais, will be competing in the Group One Champions Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on Saturday.
Yulong, the Victorian-based breeding company, has recently acquired a number of high-profile Australian race mares, including Montefilia, Forbidden Love, Snapdancer, Icebath, and Isotope.
"It's an exciting opportunity to train for Mr Zhang and the Yulong family, undoubtedly one of Australia's major breeding and racing operations," Cummings said.
"I thank Duais' original owners for entrusting her career with me and I look forward to the challenge of Saturday's Champions Stakes at Flemington with her."
Duais, a 6YO mare sired by Shamus Award, is set to compete in the Champions Stakes after a fourth-place finish in the Group One Cox Plate. She has already won three Group One races, including the Australian Cup, Tancred Stakes, and Queensland Oaks, and has also finished in the top three in three other Group One races.
"Her former owners Matthew Irwin and the Harris family purchased a $20,000 mare by Johannesburg (USA) out of a Scone sale, mated her with Shamus Award and bred a horse that became one of the best stayers in the country," Cummings said.
"It was a passion project of two families that love their racing and she took them on the ride of their life.
"In an age of big money imports, they've proven it's still within reach to breed a local stallion over an Australian-bred mare and get an amazing result."
Damien Oliver will ride Duais on Saturday, after having galloped the mare at Flemington on Tuesday morning.
"She worked really well, and Ollie gave her the thumbs up," Cummings said.
"I feel she's ready to run another great race on Saturday."
Duais and Prowess are currently tied as the equal second favorites, with odds of US$6, for the Champions Stakes at TAB.com.au. The favorite in the pre-field market is West Wind Blows, with odds of US$3.
“Our filly is tough and hard and it was the first time she ran with the colts. She proved herself good enough to be with them.
“Oisin gave her a very good ride, he did everything right and she ran a huge race.”