Before Saturday's Group III Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, Dixie Blossoms had contested four consecutive Group races and it would be fair to say she did not have much luck in any of them.
They included runner-up finishes in the Group III Arrowfield (Keith Nolan) Classic at Kembla Grange, Group III Toy Show Quality at Randwick and Group II Golden Pendant at Rosehill.
The daughter of Street Sense (USA) looked to have a bit to do to right that situation when well back in the field rounding the home turn but the step up to the mile proved the determining factor as she powered home under Tim Clark to score by one and a quarter lengths over the Chris Waller-trained Lady Le Fay (Thorn Park) with Peter and Paul Snowden's Happy Hannah (More Than Ready) another one and three-quarter length back in third. (photo Steve Hart).
It was a richly deserved maiden stakes win for Dixie Blossoms, much to the relief of trainer Ron Quinton and the 4yo mares owner/breeder Alan
"All the way along we've been a bit concerned that the 1300 and 1400 would be too sharp for her so we were really looking forward to getting to the mile," Quinton said.
"I'd never seen Tim (Clark) so confident before a race. He was so confident in her and it turned out to be a great ride."
Quinton now plans to up the ante and head south for the spring carnival with the Group II Tesio Stakes (1600m), Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) or the Group One Myer Classic (1600m) under consideration.
"The Matriarch Stakes over 2000 metres is a race we would look at,"
"I think she'll handle 2000 (metres), she's out of a very stout family on the mother's side."
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.
Dixie Blossoms becomes the 47th stakes-winner for former Darley shuttler Street Sense (USA) (Street Cry).
