History beckons Dame Giselle after she continued her undefeated three-year-old season with a devastating win in the AUD200,000 G2 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick (Australia). Having swept through the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes, G2 Furious Stakes and the G2 Tea Rose Stakes, the China Horse Club homebred will now vie to become only the third filly in the last quarter of a century to win all four legs of the Princess Series.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained filly will be given her chance to join an elite peerage of Angst (1993) and Samantha Miss (2008) when she takes her place in the AUD500,000 G1 Darley Flight Stakes on 3rd October 2020. Jockey Tommy Berry cannot wait. The star rider was effusive in his praise for Dame Giselle once again after she quickly put paid to the best fillies of her generation for a third successive time.
“[Dame Giselle] was great today, she was strong at the end there, she just switches off when she gets to the front, a bit like last start,” he told media post-race.
“[Dame Giselle] was a little bit fired up when they weren’t going all that quick, but it was very important to get cover on her, because once I did, she switched off fine. I think if she gets cover [in the Flight Stakes] she’ll be fine.
“They (Snowden Racing) do a lovely job with all their fillies, they just give them plenty of time, [Dame Giselle] has been the beneficiary of that, 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.”
Dame Giselle spelled exceptionally well at the China Horse Club’s picturesque The Chase in the NSW Southern Highlands, filling into her imposing frame before being prepped at part-owner Sir Owen Glenn’s pre-training operation before returning to the care of the Snowden’s stable. The father/son duo were elated when they first laid eyes on the filly and that enthusiasm has become more and more boisterous with every race appearance.
“I stood here two weeks ago and said it was pretty to watch. Today was even better,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden.
“Great ride by Tommy, afforded a good draw and she lobbed into a lovely spot. Just the turn of foot that she possesses when needed to, we were pretty confident that seven furlongs wasn’t going to be a problem today and she has won accordingly.”
Dame Giselle has now won four G2 events and the AUD1,000,000 Golden Gift among her five career wins. Almost AUD1.2 million has also been banked for connections from only nine career starts.
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