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| Staff Writer |
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James McDonald, riding the daughter of No Nay Never, surged wide on the bend for home, passing eight competitors, and gained a three-length advantage that proved crucial. New Zealand invader Licketysplit came through to earn third ahead of the favourite Boogie Dancer, while Revolutionary Miss finished a length and a half back in second, similar to her flashy effort when finishing second in the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr.1) in February.
Chris Waller's Madame Pommery, whose name comes from the opulent French champagne house Champagne Pommery, showed signs of coming to life in three Princess Series' races this spring, but she was ultimately overshadowed by both her stablemate Zougotcha, who finished ahead of her in the Darley Tea Rose Stakes (Gr.2), and the winner of the Darley Furious Stakes (Gr.2), North Star Lass. After only one other win, in a 2-year-old handicap at Rosehill in May, this was her second win in seven tries.
"A fantastic ride (from James McDonald)," said Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth. "We were a little bit nervous as to whether she'd see out a tough mile, especially when the rain came, it threw some serious doubt into our minds. She got a gem of a ride, did no work early, only had to chime in at the 400 (meter mark), and she let down pretty impressively. As a stable, it's not just this filly, we've now taken out the Flight Stakes (with Zougotcha) and the Thousand Guineas. She potentially didn't live up to her best in the Flight Stakes, but she's got good wet track form and she's an exciting prospect,” Duckworth added.
Madame Pommery becomes the first Gr.1 winner in Australia and the sixth worldwide for Coolmore stallion No Nay Never, who shuttled south to Jerrys Plains for four seasons between 2016 and 2019, leaving 201 live foals.
Selected by Waller and trusted agent Guy Mulcaster, Madame Pommery is the fourth foal out of Exceed And Excel mare Cancel, herself a sister to Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Earthquake, and half-sister to stakes winners Pandemic and Palomares.