Emily Margaret on path to classic
WELLINGTON: Emily Margaret showed all her fighting qualities as she withstood a fierce challenge from northern visitor Wekaforce to win the listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
The Pins filly entered the race as the South Island’s leading hope after dealing to a handy field over 1000m on her home turf a fortnight ago.
The favourite, the Cambridge raider Wekaforce, showed speed early to cross to the lead from the outside barrier. The key to the race, however, was the good beginning made by Emily Margaret from an inside draw.
The pair went head to head for the entire 1200m journey, before Emily Margaret found a little more in the concluding stages to draw clear by half a length as Wekaforce’s early exertions told on her in the final 100m.
‘‘It was a good tough win, wasn’t it?’’ the filly’s Riccarton cotrainer, Kevin Hughes, said.
‘‘It was a great ride by Jasmine [Fawcett] as I said to her we had to use the barrier in a big field like that. With that many in the field there can be carnage when you get in amongst them so we were much better in front and out of trouble.
‘‘I thought that Wekaforce was the one to beat and they really set down to a dingdong battle in the home straight.
‘‘I know how tough my filly is so I was hoping she would see it out as she loves a scrap.’’
Hughes prepares the filly with wife Pam for owner Rodger Finlay.
‘‘I think that should just about seal a place in the [New Zealand] 1000 Guineas for her so we can take our time and pick a path for her,’’ he said. —NZ Racing Desk