DEBUTANTE A “VERY SWEET” RESULT FOR HER CONNECTIONS

WINNING a Maiden with a debutante is of course always a special result for connections.

But there was something even sweeter, pardon the pun, about Brown Sugar’s victory in the Midway Maiden Plate (1000m) at Kembla Grange yesterday.

Prepared at Gosford by Adam Duggan and ridden by talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, the Pierata three-year-old got the job done in spite of her inexperience.

Duggan and Brown Sugar’s breeder-owner Peter Horsnell are long-time friends, and it’s the same with Fitzgerald’s father Malcolm, himself a former successful jockey.

Adding to the special result was the fact that Brown Sugar’s dam Fox died only a month ago, in foal to Pierro.

She had foaled a filly by Cosmic Force a few months earlier and, remarkably, all her seven foals were fillies.

Whilst Brown Sugar went out as a $10 chance, her success certainly wasn’t a surprise to her trainer.

“Peter bought Fox after she had a few foals (the first two didn’t race), and I won six races with her third, Miss Fox,” Duggan said today.

“I also won a race with her next foal Hawkwind, but unfortunately her career was cut short with an unusual injury.

“She slipped a ligament which runs across the hock, and it was the same injury her mother had.

“Steppenwolf (by Dissident) was Fox’s next foal, and she is a now a five-year-old and is such a big mare that we won’t get her to the races.

“Brown Sugar was the next foal. I saw her in a paddock as a yearling and said to Peter ‘this is the one”.

“I have liked her along and have been saying for the last 12 months that I was really looking forward to racing her when she was ready.

“She is similar to Miss Fox, but has a bit more ability.

“Brown Sugar is still learning as she showed yesterday, but I’m confident has a very nice future.

“It was a terrific result for all concerned.

“I am very good friends with Peter, who is an important part of my business as he floats my horses to the races.

“He took Brown Sugar to Kembla Grange yesterday, and naturally was thrilled to see her win on debut.

“I’ve known Malcom (Fitzgerald) for probably 30 years, and his daughter Mollie is a wonderful young rider.

“She has been held back from riding in town on a regular basis, but is going to be a real hit when eventually that happens.”

Duggan trialled Brown Sugar earlier in the year at Wyong before putting her out, and then trialled her again at Wyong on September 8 when second in another 845m heat.

Probability Theory, the filly who beat her in the trial, subsequently won two races before stepping right up in class and contesting yesterday’s Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle.

RacingNSW stewards highlighted the merit of Brown Sugar’s debut triumph by noting that she began awkwardly, and further mentioned that apprentice Fitzgerald said she raced greenly whilst under pressure in the home straight and proved difficult to fully test, particularly over the final 150m.

That she still managed to defeat Doralee ($5.50) and $3.30 favorite Century Song was clearly a measure of her ability.

Meanwhile, Duggan also has announced the retirement of his nine-year-old warrior Diamond Diesel. He won nine races (including the Listed Civic Stakes at Warwick Farm on a wet track in June last year) with the gelding, who began his career in Hong Kong before being returned to Australia.

“Diamond Diesel was just starting to get a few niggles, and I didn’t want anything to happen to him,” Duggan said.

“He has been a terrific horse for us, and I recommended to his owners that it was time to stop.”

. HOOFNOTE: RacingNSW stewards at Canterbury last Friday night fined Newcastle jockey Aaron Bullock $750 for being overweight and unable to ride the promising Wyong mare Oakfield Jupiter at Rosehill Gardens the previous Saturday.

With replacement Zac Lloyd aboard, Oakfield Jupiter made it two city wins from as many starts this preparation.

Story John Curtis, November 16, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos