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O’Reilly filly O’Marilyn is a warm favourite to claim a second Group One victory following a dominant win in the G3 Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa on Monday.
The G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner from last season is now heading to the G1 NZB 1000 Guineas at Riccarton Park on November 15 for trainer Stephen McKee.
“The 1000 Guineas will be her next target and its only two-and-a-half weeks away now,” commented McKee.
Monday’s win was O’Marilyn’s fourth from eight starts and took her earnings to $342,825 for owners Trevor McKee & B E Rissetto. Trevor McKee purchased O’Marilyn for $130,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud.
Bred by Whakanui Stud, O’Marilyn is out of the fine producer Monroe Magic, a daughter of champion broodmare sire Zabeel.
O’Marilyn is a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Cup winner Headturner (Anabaa), G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva (Anabaa) and G2 winner Kroner (Viking Ruler).
O’Marilyn will be looking to extend her lead in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series at Riccarton following her victory in the G3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings – the first leg of the Series.
She is also eligible for a $100,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Bonus if successful in the NZB 1000 Guineas.
Competing against the boys on Monday, O’Marilyn started favourite and rider Sam Spratt found the trail despite knuckling at the start.
Leader Vinnie Eagle rolled off the rail giving the daughter of O’Reilly a clear passage through and she dashed away to win by 1.5 lengths.
“She is becoming one of the better three-year-olds, we will see how she sits after the 1000 Guineas but she is certainly working her way up there,” McKee said.