O’Marilyn Hits First Pot of Gold

Last season’s leading two-year-old filly O’Marilyn (O’Reilly) made an emphatic return to racing with a dominant win in the Group 3 $70,000 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday.

O’Marilyn winning emphatically in the Group 3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

The victory also gave her first blood in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, earning six points in the Series opener.

The daughter of O’Reilly started as race-favourite on the back of an impressive two-year-old season which was highlighted by her triumph in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes for trainer Stephen McKee.

It was not plain sailing for rider Sam Spratt on O’Marilyn however as she found herself without a clear run until the last 100m.

After missing the start slightly, O’Marilyn was stuck three horses back on the inside. Spratt had no option but to wait for a run to appear near the inside and a passage eventually came. When O’Marilyn saw daylight she let down with an explosive turn of foot to quickly race to the lead and win by a length from the fast finishing Flaming (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) and Shees Flawless (NZ) (Fully Fledged) in third.

“That’s the best draw (three) she’s had and she missed away,” commented McKee . “It was a little bit awry at the 300 until a gap opened up.”

“Obviously, the Guineas at Christchurch is her main aim, but how we get there I’m not that sure yet – probably the Sarten Memorial next.”

Saturday’s victory was O’Marilyn’s third career win from seven starts, adding to her Group 1 success and a debut victory. She has also been placed in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes and the $1m Karaka Million, taking her earnings to $299,075 for her owners Trevor McKee ONZM & B E Rissetto.

Bred by Whakanui Stud Ltd, O’Marilyn is out of winning Zabeel mare Monroe Magic who is also the dam of Group 1 Australian Derby winner Headturner (Anabaa), Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva (Anabaa) and Group 2 winner Kroner (Viking Ruler).

It was the start of a great day for her sire O’Reilly, last season’s Champion Sire, who also sired Group 1 George Main Stakes winner Sacred Falls (NZ) in Australia.

Trevor Mckee purchased O’Marilyn for $130,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud.

O’Marilyn has the early lead in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with 6 points, Flaming earned 3 points for her runner-up placing and Shees Flawless claimed 1.5 points for finishing third.

That was the first leg of the 10-race Series which now moves to the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on 15 November.

To view the current leaderboard for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series, click here.