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| Group One glory for Duporth |
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Duporth gave our stable an overdue Group One win with a photo result in the $400,000 BTC Cup which surprised even his most ardent supporter.
"I thought he had run second or third," trainer Anthony Cummings said as he headed towards the Doomben winner’s circle.
Duporth, ridden by comeback jockey Luke Nolen, rallied from midfield to wear down Bank Robber and win the weight-for-age sprint by a half head.
“The stable has been right in the frame for a few Group One races this season without a great deal of luck and the same can be said about Duporth.
"He hasn't had much luck in a number of the bigger races. He's a top quality three-year-old but he had no luck racing against the best in the country.
"But I thought today was always going to be his day. I never lost faith in the horse because there have genuine excuses each time he has raced in a Group I this time in.
“In the Newmarket Handicap in Melbourne he was going for a run and it shut and in the Galaxy in Sydney he was a victim of a wide barrier.”
Duporth had backing as a $14 chance and Nolen, who picked up the ride at the expense of the suspended High Bowman, capped a comeback from a serious fall 12 months ago.
In winning the first Group One race of the Brisbane winter carnival, Duporth:
• took his prizemoney earnings past $1 million;
• emulated his dam Staging, who won the race in 1999;
• has become an even more serious contender for the Doomben 10000 and Stradbroke Handicap;
• and substantially increased his stud value by posting his maiden Group One victory.
Stablemate Solo Flyer finished seventh in the race, but was beaten less than three lengths.
Sunday, 10 May 2009 |
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