Duais an Oaks Prospect for Edward Cummings

Meanwhile, on a day when trainer James Cummings had plenty to celebrate (see above), his brother Edward would have gone home tickled pink after 3YO filly Duais (Shamus Award-Meerlust, by Johannesburg) saluted in the Gr3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick. In holding off fellow fillies Bargain (Ocean Park) and Godolphin’s Flexible (Hallowed Crown), Duais became the second daughter of Meerlust to win at Group level, the other being multiple Group-performed Gr3 Sunshine Coast Guineas winner Baccarat Baby. It would seem that a lot of thought has gone into the naming of both fillies. Baccarat Baby is by Casino Prince, hence self-explanatory. And Duais? Well, that’s a little more open to conjecture. According to en.wiktionary.org, a duais is “a honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; that which may be won by chance”. If so, she is perfectly named, however there’s another intriguing possibility. Out of a mare named after one of South Africa’s finest wineries, Meerlust, the name Duais is a phonetic pronunciation of an Afrikaans word which confers an altogether different and more nuanced meaning. Either way, Duais could have booked herself an appointment with the Gr1 Australian Oaks (2400m) next weekend where she would not be out of place on Saturday's effort.