Black-type Double For Ladies First (NZ)

Exciting mare Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas), who cost just $8000 at Karaka as a weanling, collected her sixth win and her second at stakes level when she ran away with the $50,000 Listed Civics @ Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday.

A dominant last-start winner of the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1550m), Ladies First stepped up in distance on Saturday and was even more impressive. Lisa Allpress had her in ninth place before she burst into contention as the field rounded the home turn and then raced away, winning by three and three-quarter lengths.

“It was an outstanding win,” trainer Allan Sharrock said. “The way she’d been working through this week, I did have a feeling that it might play out that way today. She’s a very good mare.”

By Dylan Thomas out of the Group 3-winning Dehere mare Just Polite, Ladies First was bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock. Offered by Blandford Lodge at the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, she was bought for $8000 by Humphrey O’Leary, who races her in partnership with wife Fiona.

Ladies First has now had 10 starts for six wins, two placings and prize-money of $119,125 – almost 15 times her purchase price.