There would be few more popular or well-deserved winners of a Group 1 than the honest mare Dixie Blossoms who gave her trainer Ron Quinton his fourth win in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.
The 6yo daughter of Street Sense (USA) made her winning run close to the rail, which has previously been a no go zone, to defeat El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) by two and a half lengths with Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs) one and a quarter lengths back in third. (images Steve Hart)
Winning rider Christian Reith was due to ride at Gosford but he managed to get off his mounts when offered the ride on Dixie Blossoms.
"She's such a beautiful mare and just to be part of her career has been an absolute pleasure," Reith said.
"She deserves a Group 1 for the consistency that she has had. I couldn't be prouder, not only to win it for Ron and the owners but also for the mare.
"She just gave me a great
"She surprises every time she goes around. She's got age in her legs but she runs like a three-year-old.
"I was supposed to be going to Gosford today but thankfully a few owners allowed me to get off their horses to ride this mare and I couldn't be happier."
After winning the race twice as a rider, Ron Quinton said it was among the best days he has had on the track.
"I think it's one of my proudest days on a racecourse to win that Group 1 with Dixie," Quinton said.
"It's just unbelievable. She's been knocking on the door for a couple of years.
"She's a doll, one of the kindest horses you could deal with. A wonderful mare. The heavy track maybe levelled them up and she does handle it.
"You could let her out on the street and she would find her way home. I've just been dying for Dixie to win that Group 1."
Previously the winner of the Group II Guy Walter Stakes twice and two runnings of the Group III Angst Stakes, Dixie Blossoms was winning for the first time at Rosehill.
"She has run some good races here, she ran a great race here last year in the Coolmore (when sixth behind stablemate Daysee Doom)," Quinton noted.
"A homebred for Allan Osburg, Dixie Blossoms advances her record to 7 wins, 6 seconds and 7 thirds from 30 starts with earnings of $1,363,910.
"She's my first Group 1 winner since Exceed And Excel," Osburg revealed.
"She was going to retire last year but Ron talked me into giving her another season and I'm happy he did."
A daughter of the former Darley shuttler Street Sense (USA), Dixie Blossoms is out of the winning Star Way (GB) mare Whistle Dixie whose dam Proteaceae (Kaapstad) is a half-sister to Group 1 NZ Derby winner Zonda (Zabeel) and Group II PJ O'Shea Stakes winner Magnolia Hall (Noble Bijou) who was third in a Melbourne Cup.
Whistle Dixie was pensioned in 2013 and Dixie Blossoms is her final foal.
