The regally-bred Duquesa (Encosta de Lago) streaked to a dominating five length victory for Pencarrow Racing at yesterday evening’s twilight race meeting at Ellerslie in the $12,500 Lindaur Maiden 2200m.

The daughter of Caulfield/Melbourne Cup heroine Ethereal was stepping out over a staying distance for the first time in her career following a close, and unlucky, second at her last start over 1800m for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.

The four-year-old mare enjoyed a cosy run three back on the rails in the small seven-horse field and rider Samantha Collet was able to find clear running approaching the turn to put Duquesa in a winning position.

In the straight, Duquesa pounced to the lead and raced away from the field in a dominant performance, displaying her superior talent over the 2200m.

“She won really nicely, it was a good effort and she put them away pretty good,” commented Ramsay. “It was the first time she has stepped up to a trip and with her breeding we thought that would suit her.

“She was jogging the whole way and you could tell a long way from home she was going to be the winner. In her last start over 1800m she showed a good turn of foot as well so it appears the further she goes the better her turn of foot is.

“There is a nice $30,000 Special Conditions Maiden at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day over 2100m that will suit her next start.

“She has taken a little while to come to it but the way she won yesterday a race like the St Leger could be a nice race for her over 2400m looking to the future. I think she would get the distance alright as she got the 2200m pretty easy yesterday at her first try.”

Owned by Peter Vela, Duquesa broke her maiden status at her seventh start – just as her dam Ethereal did - and took her earnings past $10,000.

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Duquesa is the third winner out of four-time Group 1 winner Ethereal (Rhythm) who has already left the Group 1 placed Uberalles (Giant’s Causeway) along with Ebullient (Stravinsky), a four-time winner.

Duquesa is from a blueblood family with her second dam the Hong Kong International Cup winner Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram) who is from the foundation Pencarrow Stud family of Richebourg (Vice Regal) that has produced Group 1 winners the calibre of Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel) and Darci Brahma (Danehill).

Ethereal has a yearling filly by Rip Van Winkle that has been retained by the Stud.