Sledmere Stud sales graduate Dame Giselle is now just one win away from clinching the prestigious Darley Princess Series after landing the $200,000, Group 2, ATC Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick with another brilliant victory at the headquarters of NSW racing.
Unbeaten since her resumption from a spell as a 3-year-old, Dame Giselle went into the contest having already won the Silver Shadow Stakes (G2) first-up and then the Furious Stakes (G2) two weeks later.
Faced with the challenge of racing over 1400m for the first time in her career in the Tea Rose Stakes, the brilliant daughter of I Am Invincible came through the assignment with her Darley Princess Series hopes completely intact, scoring by half-a-length from the talented Frankel filly Hungry Heart.
If anything, the step-up in distance witnessed the finest performance of Dame Giselle’s career to date, her victory being heralded by co-trainer Paul Snowden and regular rider Tommy Berry in its aftermath.
“I stood here two weeks ago and said it was pretty to watch,” began Paul Snowden in his post-race interview. “Today was even better.
“Just the turn of foot that she possesses when needed. We were pretty confident that seven furlongs [1400m] wasn’t going to be a problem today and she has won accordingly.”
“She was great today,” said Berry. “She was strong at the end there. She just switches off when she gets to the front, a bit like last start.”
Berry added: “They [Team Snowden] do a lovely job with all their fillies. They just give them plenty of time. She has come back much stronger this preparation and they’ve done a wonderful job with her. I’m just happy to be along for the ride.”
Next stop for Dame Giselle is the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 5. In reference to her running out the distance, Paul Snowden said: “On the dam side, her mum was twice a winner at the mile. Certainly, there is a little bit of pedigree there to suggest she is going to run it.”
After just nine race starts, Dame Giselle has amassed $1,196,250 in prizemoney and is now a quadruple Group 2 winner. Her three black-type successes so far this season were preceded by the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) as a 2-year-old.