Favourite backers looked to be in trouble when the Tony Gollan-trained Knight Mariner claimed the heavily backed Wapiti inside the 100 metres of Saturday’s Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast but son of Love Conquers All began to rally under Sean Cormack to score by three-quarter of length.
Duncan also trains the third placed Love Express, who like Wapiti is a son of Love Conquers All.
Trained on the track by Tony Duncan, Wapiti advanced his record to 3 wins and 4 seconds from 11 starts with earnings of $244,650.
"He has never run a bad race. Wapiti has been hampered by wide barriers or he would have an even better record," Duncan told AAP.
"Everything I have asked him to do he has responded to."
"He was coming back from 2000m today and that might have helped at the finish. But I would like to try him again at a middle distance.
"Love Express was only a short head behind the second horse. He is pretty handy as well.”
Bred and part-owned by Carolyn Hickey, Wapiti was consigned by Kenmore Lodge to the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he failed to make his $40,000 reserve.
He is the only winner from two to race out of the hard-knocking Dubai Destination mare Lucky Dubai who won nine and placed in four of her 38 starts with earnings of $246,550.
Purchased by Vin Cox Bloodstock for just $7,500 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Lucky Dubai hails from the family of the Group 1 Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee winner Fayr Jag.
Lucky Dubai has an unraced 2yo brother to Wapiti named Leored. She has not had a live foal in the following two years before being covered by the Sequalo stallion Agitate last spring.
Wapiti becomes the fifth winner for the Sun Stud owned stallion Love Conquers All.
The son of Mossman has enjoyed a great run of late with Group II Dane Ripper Stakes winner Love You Lucy leading the way.
The former Sun Stud resident who will stand the 2020 season at Clear Mountain Fairview at a fee of $5,500.
