Low-Priced Ladies First (NZ) Supreme in Auckland Cup

After an outstanding win in Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie, $8,000 purchase Ladies First(NZ) (Dylan Thomas) could be in line for a shot at Australasia’s most famous race.

The win boosted the five-year-old’s prize-money earnings to $480,760 – which is already 60 times her purchase price – and trainer Allan Sharrock is now looking ahead to the A$6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.

“She’ll go to the paddock now, and then we’ll be looking at the Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Melbourne Cup,” he said.

Raced by Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary, Ladies First has now won nine of her 15 starts including three at black-type level.

Saturday’s performance was easily her best yet, overcoming an energy-sapping wide run. She surged to the lead in the straight, then repelled the challenge of the strong-finishing $165,000 Select Sale purchase Five to Midnight (NZ) (Domesday) to win by a nose.

“She was posted three wide around one bend and then two bends and I said she can’t win,” Sharrock said.

“I’m rapt, but I did think she had got beaten on the line. I’m a bit shocked really – I thought she had run second.

“They all thought she was a wet-tracker, but her last three wins have been on firm tracks."