Oaks Heroine Duais Completes a Grand Day for Shamus Award

Mark Smith - Saturday June 5

An incredible day for Rosemont Stud’s Shamus Award at Eagle Farm began with a nine-length winner, Incentivise, and ended with the Edward Cummings-trained Duais, the runaway winner of the $600,000 Group 1 James Squire Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Duais (image Michael McInally 7HorseRacing twitter)

Making her first start since finishing runner-up to the top-class Frankel (GB) filly Hungry Heart in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 17, Duais was sensationally backed to start the $2.80 favourite.

Advertisement

Given a patient ride by Hugh Bowman, Duais scythed between runners from second last to win by a widening two and a half lengths over Charms Star (Per Incanto) with Signora Nera (Sweynesse) a short-neck back in third.

The Group III Adrian Knox Stakes winner at Randwick, Duais advances her record to four wins and four seconds from 10 starts with earnings of $743,015.

Cummings said it was always the plan to give the daughter of Shamus Award plenty of times between runs.

“We’ve done it already before in the prep. She was about seven weeks between runs from Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm,” Cummings said.

“We took her to the trials about three weeks out from Warwick Farm, put Hugh on in the trial and at Warwick Farm where she ran a PB. I think we just did the same thing and I’m surprised that not enough people found that out before we got here.

“She is a very kind, very willing filly and when you asked her she is very strong. She has an amazing system.

“I win like that that makes you think of bigger prospects in the spring.

“This is all very surreal. I suppose I will come to terms with it in the next few hours, the next few days and perhaps the next few months. There is something about this game that makes you want to get up in the next day and work harder and prove it again and again.”

Duais is a homebred for  Matthew Irwin and the Harris family from Queensland who purchased a Johannesburg (USA) filly for $22,000 at the 2009 Scone Yearling Sale.

Named Meerlust, a debut win at Grafton proved to be the career highlight in a 5-start career.

But what an outstanding success she has been at stud.

 She has two stakes-winners and a Doomben winner from three of her first four foals.

The first stakes-winner was the charismatic Casino Prince mare Baccarat Baby who won the Group III SunCTC Guineas and Listed SCTC Princess Stakes while banking over $500,000.

 Baccarat Baby purchased by Spendthrift for $650,000 at National Broodmare Sale

Consigned by Telemon Thoroughbreds to the recent National Broodmare Sale,  Baccarat Baby was purchased by Spendthrift Stud for $650,000 with the intention of sending her to the first season sire Dirty Work.  

Duais is a direct descendant of the great racemare and influential producer Fanfreluche (CAN) the dam of L'Enjoleur, La Voyageuse and D'Accord and ancestress of Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago.

Meerlust has an unraced 2yo sister to Dasis named Amity Gal, but she has not had a foal since. The daughter of Johannesburg (USA) was covered by All Too Hard last spring. 

Duais becomes the third Group 1 winner for Shamus Award, and all three have earned the honour in classics. Mr Quickie claimed the 2019 BRC Queensland Derby and Media Award won the SAJC Schweppes Oaks in May .

Shamus Award stands at Rosemont Stud in 2021 at a fee of $33,000.

Shamus Award

Visit the profile page for Shamus Award

Shamus Award in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - James Squire Queensland Oaks Gr1 2200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 2:18.83
1
Duais
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
2
2.5
Charms Star
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $260,000
Seller: Little Avondale Stud, Masterton, NZ
Buyer: Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA)
NZB Karaka Book 1 $0
Seller: Little Avondale Stud
Buyer: Withdrawn
3
2.7
Signora Nera
- 3f Sweynesse (AUS) x Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: O P Bosson 56.5
4
3.4
Splendiferous
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Magical Mist (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
5
3.7
Bargain
- 3f Ocean Park (NZ) x Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 56.5
6
3.8
Easifar
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Storm Fronts (AUS) (Hurricane Sky (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L R Dittman 56.5
7
4.1
Only Words
- 3f Sweynesse (AUS) x Jungle Pago (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
8
5.6
Ruru
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Keysbrook (AUS) (So Secret (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: G Boss 56.5
9
5.7
Rebel Rama
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Mossarama (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: M C Conners Rdr: Ms M Weir 56.5
10
9.2
Yatton
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x O'Reilly Rose (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Ben Thompson 56.5
11
11.5
Grace And Harmony
- 3f Sebring (AUS) x Champagne Harmony (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
12
22.5
Mishani Whisper
- 3f Mahisara (AUS) x Mishani Shiva (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Purdy Rdr: James Orman 56.5
13
40.5
Good Soize
- 3f Adelaide (IRE) x Mountain Dew (AUS) (Snowland (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ryan Maloney 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Shamus Award's Duais Primes for Caulfield Cup with Victory in Coongy
Queensland Oaks heroine Duais will head to Saturday’s $5million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) following a determined win in Wednesday’s Group III Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Duais Retired to Yulong
Edward Cummings released a statement on Thursday announcing the unfortunate news that his stable star Duais had suffered an injury and will be retired to stud joining the extensive broodmare band at Yulong.
Shamus Award's Duais Powers to Victory in Australia Cup
Following a luckless sixth in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on a heavy 10 at Randwick, the Edward Cummings-trained Duais showed her appreciation of a good track at Flemington with a dominant performance in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Australia Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.