O’Fille shows her class again

Strapping O’Reilly mare O’Fille continued her top run of black type form this season with victory in the New Zealand Bloodstock Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes. This afternoon’s Awapuni success now leaves the five-year-old with one more mission to accomplish before a spell.

Trainer Wayne Marshment said the Gr.2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa on April 27 would bring the curtain down on her current preparation. “She’s just getting better and better all the time so I’ll only give her one more run and put her out and then come back for next year,” he said.

The dual Gr 3 winner of the Trentham and Cuddle Stakes, O’Fille was drawn widest on the turn today by regular rider Noel Harris and was far too good over the closing 150 metres. “She’s still untapped and she was unlucky when she was third in this race last year and should have won it,” he said. “She was a bit keen down the back, bit she finished off like a good horse and showed her class – it’s great to be associated with a horse like this,” Harris said.