The faith of Leeston trainer Vicki Burnett in Dutchess was rewarded when the 5yr-old mare won a maiden trot at Washdyke yesterday.
Burnett and her husband of three weeks, Ricki, leased Dutchess last week.
Vicki was the former Vicki Cowan, whose husband, Peter, died in 2008 after being kicked by a horse.
She previously raced Dutchess in partnership.
"The other owners wanted out when she had not measured up but I felt the mare needed time," Burnett said.
Dutchess had not managed a placing in her other eight starts. Dutchess is a half-sister to Mountbatten and Crusader Command.
Mountbatten won eight races in New Zealand and more in North America. Crusader Command has won six races.
Burnett and her husband returned Trotupastorm to winning form at Addington on September 13 after the 8yr-old had been off the winning list for three and a-half years. Vicki also races Toria's Secret, who has won three races at Menangle in recent weeks from the stable of Luke McCarthy.
• Geo Star became the seventh winner left by his dam, Star Rhapsody, when successful at Washdyke yesterday.
Geo Star is trained by Regan Todd for Kaiapoi breeder Dave Clemence. Geo Star is one of two horses Todd is training. He is foreman for the Burnham stable of Mark Jones.
Star Rhapsody is also the dam of Rocket Star, the winner of 15 races, including nine in Western Australia.
Todd drove Rocket Star in four of his New Zealand wins when he was employed by Woodend Beach trainers David and Catherine Butt.
Star Rhapsody has also left Welcome Star (eight wins in Australia) and Speedstar (six).
• Franco Jamar won a $A25,000 race at Menangle on Saturday night in 1.51.2 for the mile. It was his third win in as many starts since joining the stable of Luke McCarthy.
Smoken Up won a free-for-all in a 1.55.5 rate for 2240m at Melton on Friday night. He is unbeaten in four starts in a fresh campaign.
