G2 Matriarch Stakes Win for Deny Knowledge

Mares by Pride of Dubai have been on fire this spring and Deny Knowledge (6m Pride of Dubai x The Paris Shrug, by Manduro) joined the party with a brave front running victory in the $300,000 Group II VRC Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

An Irish bred import, Deny Knowledge was backing up from a good fourth to Pride of Dubai mare Pride of Jenni in last Saturday’s Group I VRC Empire Rose Stakes and looked superb in the mounting yard, fit and well and ready to fire.

Trained by Mick Kent and ridden by Jamie Kah, Deny Knowledge surged to the front from an outside draw and was strong to the line outpointing another import in Osmose (Fr) with Queensland Oaks winner Amokura powering home for third.

“She’s a really good mare and the only times she hasn't run well are when she’s gone too hard, so the plan was always to run her on Saturday to take the edge off her for today,” said Mick Kent.

“Going through the race I thought she might have been going too slow, but her strength is she can maintain that gallop. Jamies was full of confidence and really wanted to ride her again after last Saturday and she’s done a good job, she’s as good a jockey as I’ve ever seen.”

Now a two time Group winner, Deny Knowledge runs for Honeycomb Stud and partners and has the overall record of seven wins and six placings from 27 starts with prizemoney topping $700,000.

She made 26,000 euros at the Goffs Sportsman’s Yearling Sale and is the first winner from The Paris Shrug, a winning half-sister by Monsun stallion Manduro to Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange.

This is also the family of much loved perennial Melbourne Cup placegetter and Group I winner Red Cadeaux, so it’s no surprise Deny Knowledge is winning over a trip.

Deny Knowledge is the second Group winner of the week at Flemington for Pride of Dubai, who stands at a fee of $27,500.