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O’Reilly’s outstanding daughter O’Marilyn made a spectacular return to racing to claim the G3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings in a fine trial for the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas in November.
Last season’s G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner, O’Marilyn ran into trouble on the home turn but showed great acceleration to power home for a decisive victory.
Trainer Stephen McKee said the Guineas at Christchurch is her main aim this spring.“How we get there I’m not that sure yet - probably the Sarten Memorial next,” McKee said.
“Being by O’Reilly out of a Zabeel mare you would expect her to go further.”A $130,000 Karaka yearling, O’Marilyn is a half-sister to the G1 winners Anacheeva (Caulfield Guineas) and Headturner (Australian Derby).
Another 1000 Guineas emerged when the Darci Brahma filly Darci’s Dream won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton.The 17th stakes winner for Darci Brahma, Darci’s Dream maintained her perfect record for the season on the back of her good win at Taupo for trainer Jason Bridgman.
“We wanted to give her a look at Riccarton as she’s in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas so we’ll push on now and see how far we get,”Bridgman said.“She probably only needs one more run so we might go to the Ray Coupland Stakes.”
Bred by Te Akau principal David Ellis, Darci’s Dream is raced by John Galvin’s Fortuna Syndicate that is enjoying a stellar run with other recent winners Highly Likely at Matamata, Sir Darci won at New Plymouth and Prince Henry at Taupo.Darci’s Dream’s younger sister Windborne was a two-year-old trial winner at Te Teko recently.