Duca Valentinois wins $150k Ladies Day Cup

Jockey Jason Collett

Duca Valentinois has capped a successful day for Godolphin at Hawkesbury by finishing strongly to win the Listed Ladies Day Cup.

Jockey Jason Collett bided his time on the seasoned six-year-old gelding who was last as the field of 10 turned into the home straight.

Eventually a gap opened and Duca Valentinois ($5.50) unleashed a strong burst to reel in black-type debutant and $3.80 favourite Passage Of Time to claim the 1400m feature by 1-3/4 lengths.

Duca Valentinois, the Scone Cup winner in May, had been set for the Ladies Day Cup third-up by trainer James Cummings after two runs at Randwick over Thursday’s trip, including a last-start third.

“He was right on target for this race and it was a perfect ride by Jason,” Godolphin stable representative Nacim Dilmi told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“It’s good to see him back in form, he’s always shown a bit of ability like he did in Scone.”

Unequivocal ($31) was third, a length further back.

The victory was Duca Valentinois sixth of his 28-start career and completed a treble for Godolphin after Seine Net and Beijing Board also won.