O’Marilyn too good for the boys in Sarten

30 October 2014

O’Marilyn

Top class three-year-old O’Marilyn has tightened her grip on the Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

She produced the perfect lead-up to the classic with a dominant performance to reign supreme in Monday’s Gr.3 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa.

O’Marilyn stepped smartly to enjoy an economical run and she proved superior to the colts Vinnie Eagle and Turn Me Loose, who were both tardily away from the gates.

“Barrier manners won it really,” trainer Stephen McKee said. “She’s the ultimate professional and jumps and puts herself right there.”

O’Marilyn enjoyed a lucrative two-year-old season, culminating in her Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes victory and she is unbeaten this term following her resuming win in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes.

“Obviously, she’s come back well and retained that turn of foot,” McKee said.

The daughter of O’Reilly led early before steadying to trail and she rounded off strongly in the run home closest to the fence to score by a length-and-a-half.

“She flew the gates and kicked on really well,” rider Sam Spratt said. “She just drops the bit and travels so easily.”

Vinnie Eagle all but convinced trainer Tony Pike to head south for the Gr.1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas with his effort. He gathered pace to get to the front after a slow start and rallied gamely under pressure.

“He’s run really well and Leith (Innes) said he lost his hind end out of the gates when he slipped,” Pike said. “There’s every chance he will go to Riccarton.”

Turn Me Loose made ground solidly after his poor getaway had him at the tail of the field and Stratocaster also came on well from the back for fourth under Craig Grylls.

“Craig said he is looking for a bit further and the longer straight at Riccarton will help him out,” co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne said. – NZ Racing Desk.

Savaglee crowned Champion Three-Year-Old of 2024/25

Savaglee, bred by Waikato Stud and trained by Pam Gerard, was crowned Champion Three-Year-Old at the NZ Horse of the Year Awards, capping a season highlighted by his Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas triumph.

9 September 2025

WS bred crowned Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024/25

Waikato Stud-bred La Dorada capped a brilliant juvenile season with Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ victory, securing Champion Two-Year-Old honours at the 2024/25 Horse of the Year Awards in Hamilton.