Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Tough six-year-old mare Fleur Du Marquis celebrated her 100TH race start in style by scoring a narrow victory in the $21,000 www.gloucesterpark.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Fleur Du Marquis, an $18.70 chance trained in Collie by Bianca Ashcroft, was driven by Kyle Harper, who restrained her from out wide at barrier seven back to last before urging her forward to follow the three-wide run of the $2.05 favourite Soho Bollinger 500m after the start.
Soho Bollinger got past the early leader Illawong Mustang ($16) to take the lead after a lap had been covered. This left Fleur Du Marquis in the breeze.
Ista Gator, the $4 second fancy from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line, settled at the rear before Jocelyn Young sent him forward, three wide, approaching the bell. Insta Gator took a narrow lead, out three wide, with 250m to travel.
But Fleur Du Marquis was not to be denied, and she fought grimly to get to a narrow lead 120m from the post before winning by a head from Insta Gator, with Soho Bollinger in third place.
“She is as tough as old boots,” said Harper. “She just runs and runs and runs. This was a drop in grade. It was harder than last week (when seventh behind Starlight Dream) when we tried to sit her up, and she doesn’t go quite the same, sat up. She just likes to keep running.”
Fleur Du Marquis is by American stallion Betterthancheddar and is the third foal out of Shattering Roxey, who raced 97 times for nine wins, 12 placings and $46,143. Fleur Du Marquis has earned $138,427 from 16 wins and 33 placings from 100 starts, and is a full-sister to Triple Brie, who retired with earnings of $107,192 from 11 wins and 49 placings from 178 starts.
Bianca Ashcroft kept up the good work when Harper drove My Grand Angus to victory at Collie on Sunday afternoon. Three-year-old My Grand Angus, part-owned and trained by Ashcroft, is a half-brother to Fleur Du Marquis.