Kentuckiana Lodge filly Dr Susan has been crowned Australia’s champion three-year-old pacing filly for the 2019-20 season.
The star pacer was awarded the prestigious title after crossing the Tasman in the middle of last season and becoming a dominant force in her age category.
Dual group one victories helped Dr Susan clinch the Australian award over a classy field of fillies.
“It is a big thrill, it is a big feather in the horse’s cap to go over to Australia and win filly of the year as a foreigner,” Cran Dalgety said.
“That takes some doing, so we are rapt.”
Dr Susan started her winning run across the ditch with a 1.52.2 win in the Group Two Raith Memorial at Menangle after running third in the Group 1 Sires Stakes Fillies Championship in her last start in New Zealand.
After qualifying for the Victoria Oaks, the Bettor’s Delight filly then won the Group One Final in dominant fashion.
Dr Susan headed back to New South Wales where she won a minor event and a heat of the New South Wales Oaks before running a meritorious fourth behind fellow New Zealand filly Stylish Memphis in its Group One final.
Kentuckiana Lodge did not have to wait long for more Group One success came.
Dr Susan bolted in in her heat of the Bathurst Gold Bracelet before winning her second Group One race in its Group One final.
The three-year-old then had a short spell before being prepared for more feature races by caretaker trainers Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith.
Dr Susan notched a number of placings before finally finishing her three-year-old career.
Her last start in the Group One Australasian Breeders Crown Final would be the final outing of her race track career.
The now four-year-old is now back in Canterbury, retired and in foal to Captain Crunch for owner Chrissie Dalgety.
Dr Susan signed off as an eight-race winner with two Group One titles, a Group One placing and Group Three Victory in her name.
Those wins and her $267,444 in prize money have left Dr Susan with an imposing record as a broodmare.
By Jonny Turner
