Aussie Girl repels advances by Tax Implications. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Woodford Thoroughbreds’ Aussie Girl held off a challenge from the favored Tax Implications to win Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Noble Damsel, a one-mile inner turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.
Aussie Girl earned her first stateside stakes win in her fifth start for trainer Will Walden. The Group 3-placed 5-year-old Starspangledbanner chestnut made her first 14 starts overseas for previous conditioner James “Fozzy” Stack before selling to Woodford Thoroughbreds for $506,350 at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Aussie Girl, who made her barn debut in August 2024, entered the Noble Damsel from a local fourth going a one-turn mile on the main track in the Heavenly Prize Invitational in February. Back on turf in the Noble Damsel, Aussie Girl proved the layoff was no problem with a game score under Dylan Davis.
“She’s been great,” Walden said. “We ran her on the dirt, and she came back and had a little hiccup, so we gave her some time off, and since she’s been back in training, Neal McLaughlin over at WinStar got her ready. They do such a good job over there, and he got her through her three-eighths breezes and then sent her to us at Churchill. I’d say we did the rest, but she did the rest.”
Aussie Girl exited the inside post and settled into a stalking second position to the inside of Mrs. Gambolini as Coni Fizz showed the way, going wide into the first turn of her first start outside of Argentina through an opening quarter-mile in 23.32 seconds over the firm turf.
Coni Fizz was keen in the first turn and held a two-length advantage over Aussie Girl heading down the backside with more distance back to Edict and then Flavien Prat settling Tax Implications behind her.
“Will gave me a couple options: to be on the lead but with good fractions or if someone decided to go ahead, to just sit off of it and be smart about it,” said Davis, aboard for the first time in the afternoon. “I knew Flavien would have a big kick late – his horse always comes from out of it. I kept tight to that inside rail and just kept her game and focused and when she was challenged late, she was there for me.”
The complexion remained the same through splits of 48.17 and 1:12.96, but as the field came to the top of the lane, Aussie Girl easily overtook Coni Fizz and Tax Implications tipped out wide for her run from fifth position.
Aussie Girl got the jump while Tax Implications turned it on within the eighth pole and gained incrementally with every stride, but Aussie Girl held her off by a neck in a final time of 1:36.73.
Feather Boa rallied for third 1 1/4 lengths back, with Edict completing the superfecta. Mrs. Gambolini and Coni Fizz rounded out the order of finish. Sparkle Blue and main track-only entrants Weigh the Risks and Tipple scratched.
“I thought it was a great ride by Dylan, first and foremost,” Walden said. “Saving the ground, he could around there, and she never let go of the bit – she’s kind of a difficult filly in that regard. If she’s got targets in front of her, she can be keen, and I thought Dylan did a great job getting her to relax as much as he could and allowing her to sprint home, which she needed to do to beat the field she did.”
Walden added that Aussie Girl could target the Grade 1 Matriarch on November 30 at Del Mar, where she landed a four-length ninth in December.
“It’s possible,” said Walden. “I thought she ran really well there last year in defeat getting beat four lengths. It was a good group of fillies that went out there. She’s in the [Keeneland] November sale, so we’ll see what Mr. Sykes wants to do, whether she stays in the sale or if he pulls her. If she’s still with us, the Matriarch is on the table.”
Prat said the Chad Brown-trained Tax Implications was second best as she carried 126 pounds compared to Aussie Girl’s 122.
“I thought I had a good trip. I tipped her out and she gave me a good run. She carried 126 pounds, so she carried more weight than the winner,” Prat said. “The first part I couldn’t keep up, but gently we caught up with them and turning for home I was right there with the winner.”
Bred in Ireland by Airlie Stud, Aussie Girl, who captured the Listed Brigid’s Pastures in October 2023 at The Curragh, is out of the winning Galileo mare Ravissante. Her third dam is multiple Grade 1-victor Gorgeous. She banked $82,500 in victory while improving her overall record to 19-5-5-2 and returning $10.04 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Wednesday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
