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Duntle flies the Irish flag in Duke of Cambridge Ireland's wonderful record at Royal Ascot 2013 was further embellished when Duntle became the country's sixth winner from eight races with a half-length victory in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes on Wednesday. The four-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer, trained by David Wachman and ridden by Wayne Lordan, sported the colors of Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd., a Niarchos family interest. Ladys First led the field under jockey Paul Hanagan, who urged her to go on about three furlongs out. Meanwhile, Lordan had Duntle settled in midpack before setting her down to chase the leader. Duntle took command with a furlong remaining and was ridden out to beat Ladys First with Dank finishing another head back in third. "The placed horses wouldn't go away, but this filly doesn't do much when she hits the front," Lordan said. "Because we went so slowly I hit the front a little earlier than planned and she idled a bit, but when the fillies came around her she picked up. "It was tight, but I always knew I was going to the line safe enough. Hopefully this year she will have a change of luck and win that Group 1." Duntle won last year's Sandringham Handicap at the Royal meeting, and later finished first in the Group 1 Matron Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second in the latter event. "She did it well and Wayne gave her a very good ride," Wachman remarked. "The filly doesn't want to hit the front too soon and they didn't go a great gallop which didn't help. He was going very easily while trying to hang onto her, and while he got to the front soon enough he still had plenty up his sleeve. "She's a tough filly who won't win by far. She's a Group 1 winner, although they took it off her in the stewards' room, and she'll be heading back that way again. There is a good program for fillies and mares and plenty of options, but the race at Deauville -- the Prix Jacques Le Marois -- which Maria Niarchos sponsors will be on the agenda. "I train three for Maria, but a few more as good as this one would be all right." After battling for second in the Duke of Cambridge, Ladys First could find herself on a plane headed for North America. "She is really tough and genuine," trainer Richard Fahey stated. "I might take her to America next -- the (Grade 1) Beverly D. (at Arlington Park on August 17). I think a mile and one around two turns is where she wants to be." Ladys First has finished out of the top three just four times in her 14-race career, but has only managed to fill the winner's spot on two occasions, the last time being in a listed mile event at Haydock Park in August 2012. "The owner says I have to win before I can go -- though I think he will say yes after that," Fahey added. "She's one of the gamest fillies -- she fought back all the way, she's run a blinder," Hanagan praised the Dutch Art filly. "It would have been great for her to get her head in front -- she deserves it." Sir Michael Stoute, who trains third-placer Dank, was also quick to applaud his runner's effort. "She never lets us down, she's just so consistent," he said. "She is a nine-furlong Group 2 at the Curragh as well as the Falmouth but we will need a little time to go home and see what we do next." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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