Wapiti lands Winx Guineas

Love Conquers All (Mossman) sired his fifth stakes winner on Saturday when the Jack Duncan-trained Wapiti (3 g ex Lucky Dubai by Dubai Destination) landed the Winx Guineas (Gr 3, 1600m) at the Sunshine Coast. 

Wapiti was headed by Knight Mariner (Tavistock) in the straight, but fought back to beat him by half a length, while the winners stablemate Love Express (Love Conquers All) finished third, a short-head back.

“He has never run a bad race. Wapiti has been hampered by wide barriers or he would have an even better record,” Duncan said.

“Everything I have asked him to do he has responded to.”

Duncan is now likely to look at the Queensland summer carnivals for Wapiti.

“He was coming back from 2000 metres today and that might have helped at the finish. But I would like to try him again at a middle distance,” Duncan said.

“Love Express was only a short head behind the second horse. He is pretty handy as well.”

The gelding is out of nine time winner Lucky Dubai (Dubai Destination) and he is the first stakes winner in three generations of his family. 

Further back this is the family of Golden Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) winner Fayr Jag (Fayruz) and Listed scorer Oreade (Try My Best). 

In 2017 Lucky Dubai produced a brother to Wapiti, who is now named Leored and is unraced, while her 2018 foal by Spill The Beans (Snitzel) died and she has most recently been covered by Agitate (Sequalo). 

Having stood at Sun Stud last season, Love Conquers All will stand at Clear Mountain Fairview for $5,500 (inc GST) in 2020.