Positive performance from Certainly

Savabeel’s well-named daughter Certainly answered in the affirmative at Matamata on Friday afternoon.

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained three-year-old had finished runner-up on debut at Te Aroha and went one better in style under Craig Grylls, who sported the familiar silks of breeder-owner Waikato Stud.

Certainly had been beaten first time out by Pendragon, who has since won again, and justified her short odds with ease on her home course.

She broke well from a wide gate at the 1400 metre start to sit in second spot to the turn and bolted clear in the run home.

Her winning performance augurs well for her future with Group 1 nominations held for the Levin Classic, New Zealand Oaks and the New Zealand Derby.

Certainly is a daughter of the O’Reilly mare Frankly, who won four races up to 1600m and has a 100 percent record at stud.

All four of her foals to race have been successful and includes Ocean Park’s son, who is a two-time winner at Listed level in the Straight Six Handicap and the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes.

Frankly, who has an unraced juvenile sister to Ocean Beyond, is a half-sister to the Listed Lightning Handicap winner Keano and most notably the family of Madison Count who won both the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G1 Levin Classic.