18 Group 1 winners for Redoute’s Choice

Dariana, the filly who didn’t make it out of the gates in last Saturday’s Queensland Oaks, has romped away with today’s $500,000 Queensland Derby G1 to become the 18th individual Group One winner for her champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

After jumping safely from barrier one, Dariana (ex Beldarian by Last Tycoon) settled midfield as Sir Time Keeper set a strong pace in front. When jockey Michael Rodd found clear air for the filly, she surged forward and quickly put the result beyond doubt, winning by four-and-a-half lengths from the favourite Kutchinsky and the Queensland Oaks winner My Keepsake. The time of 2.26.49 was almost a second faster than the Brisbane Cup run over the same 2400 metres a race earlier.

Dariana was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, NSW and sold for $300,000 at the 2008 Australian Easter Yearling Sale to DGR Thoroughbred Services. She is trained by the master, Bart Cummings (recording his 260th Group 1 win) for Bell View Park Stud, Dato Tan Chin Nam & Mr B.S. Tan and gained black type when she won the AJC Frank Packer Plate G3 in April. The Queensland Derby is her third win from nine starts and has taken her prizemoney close to $450,000.

Dariana is the fourth Derby winner by Redoute’s Choice, after Empires Choice (Quensland Derby G1), Redoute’s Dancer (New Zealand Derby G1) and Musir (UAE Derby G2).