Written by Kristen Manning
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Triple Group 1 winner Duais (Shamus Award) has been retired after scans confirmed that swelling in her off-fore leg was an injury to her medial suspensory branch.
The news comes just a day after connections had accepted a spot in the rich All-Star Mile to be held at Caulfield on Saturday, March 16.
“The injury requires us to stop her preparation and after consultation with the ownership group, the decision has been made to retire her, effective immediately,” the Edward Cummings stable said in a statement.
Duais dominated in the G1 Tancred S. at Newcastle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Winner of seven of her 33 starts and over $4 million in prizemoney, Duais was bred by Matthew Irwin out of his lightly raced Grafton maiden winner Meerlust (Johannesburg {USA}) for whom he paid $22,000 as a yearling at the 2009 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale.
Duais is the fifth foal and one of the four winners produced by that well-related mare who is also dam of the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas and Listed Princess S. winner Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince) and the metropolitan winners Amiche (Nicconi) and Amity Gal (also by Shamus Award).
Sent out at 40-1 at her debut in a Newcastle maiden in June 2020, Duais found the line well to finish second, a few months later recording her first victory at that same track.
Stylishly rising through the classes, Duais won her first feature event, the G3 Adrian Knox S. at Randwick in April 2021 before a game second to Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 ATC Oaks. She took that form to Queensland where she was an easy winner of the G1 Queensland Oaks and that spring she added the G3 Coongy S. to her record.
A 2l win over Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Australian Cup saw her make her mark as one of Australia's best middle-distance horses and she was all the more impressive when recording a 3.5l win in the G1 Tancred S.
That was to be her last win though she remained competitive in top company, purchased last spring by Yulong to add to their burgeoning broodmare band.
One of her G1 W.S Cox Plate-winning sire's 24 stakes winners and six Group 1 winners, Duais is an exciting broodmare prospect being a descendant of the famed matriarch Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
This is a family that has enjoyed international success with its impact in Australia sizeable thanks to the deeds of Encosta De Lago and Flying Spur.
Duais will be missed by those who worked with her.
Duais kicks clear in the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Naturally this is a sombre moment for our stable and our minds not only turn to what she has been able to accomplish on the racetrack, but also to the people involved in her career that helped her become a triple Group 1 winner,” the stable's statement read.
“Naturally this is a sombre moment (retirement of Duais) for our stable and our minds not only turn to what she has been able to accomplish on the racetrack, but also to the people involved in her career that helped her become a triple Group 1 winner.” - Edward Cummings
“Our staff have been incredible to her throughout her life in the stable, as have her riders, jockeys, vets, farriers, physios and of course her ownership. The success of any horse depends on the active involvement of so many facets and people within our industry. We thank you all.”
“We are very fortunate to have had Duais come into our lives and develop into the magnificent mare she is today. She showed sparkling brilliance and gut-wrenching determination and toughness on the racetrack.”
Edward Cummings | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Some of her losses provided some of her greatest performances. All of those associated closely with our stable, as well as many away from it, will miss seeing her on the track at Hawkesbury and on the racetrack. We know we will never have another Duais but we hope to have a horse like her.”
