Cheap filly staking claims for title
RACING’S most unlikely fairytale could end in a filly of the year title.
There were not many times in Imelda Mary’s life when she would have been considered a contender for the title of New Zealand’s premier filly.
Not when trainer Wayne Hillis paid $3500 for her at the Karaka festival sale, the bargain bin of horseracing auctions. Not last season when she was a scrawny juvenile who scraped into the Karaka Million. And the story was not about her ability, more the angle that the filly was named after Hillis’ mother.
At that point, Avantage looked a champion filly, only for her 3yrold season to be cut short by injury this term, before Media Sensation then topped this crop.
When the latter won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton and raced to the head of the fillies’ standings, Imelda Mary was a largely ignored fifth and who could blame the critics? After all, she had yet to win a race.
But a month later, at her 12th start, Imelda Mary left maidens and has not looked back.
After adding the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie and then the Sir Tristram Classic at Te Rapa on Saturday, Imelda Mary is now on 16 points in the fillies’ title race and many of those close to her are not certain to contest remaining races, culminating in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 16.
Imelda Mary will most likely head there via the Lowland Stakes at Hastings and it will take something special to deny the little girl from the wrong side of the tracks the elite title.
Sentimental Miss was the other filly out of Saturday’s race to emerge as a genuine Oaks contender but Imelda Mary has race experience, the ability to race handy and can handle wet tracks.
The title is hers to lose.
On the subject of titles, Melody Belle is in the box seat to become the horse of the year.
Her brave and baffling win in the $200,000 BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa was her third group 1 of the season.
As important as her victory was from a title perspective, the defeat of fellow star mare Danzdanzdance in the Herbie Dyke (won by On The Rocks) could be just as crucial as both mares went into the day with two group 1 wins for the season.
Melody Belle will most likely head to the $200,000 Haunui Classic at Otaki on Saturday week, which could all but end her season.
Danzdanzdance’s cotrainer, Chris Gibbs, said his grey was still on target for a Sydney
campaign aimed at the Ranvet on March 23 and the Queen Elizabeth on April 13.
‘‘She just pulled too hard and didn’t get cover on Saturday so we will put that one behind us,’’ he said.
Danzdanzdance has the even larger challenge of taking on Winx in the Queen Elizabeth but that at least comes with a bonus — downing the Queen of the Turf might be the only thing that could totally swing the horse of the year voting back her way. — NZME