Top trifecta for stud

Waikato Stud made their mark on the opening day of the spring carnival undercard at Hastings with a memorable trifecta in the Rating 85 sprint. Last season’s Gr 3 Lowland Stakes winner and Gr 1 New Zealand Oaks runner-up Miss Selby took the major honours from Kelly O’Reilly and Fancy Dress.

“She’ll go to the Merial Mile and then back here for the third day,” trainer John Bary said. By O’Reilly out of the Gr 2 Waikato Gold Cup winner Singing Star, Miss Selby came with a well-timed finish from the back of the field in the hands of Shannon Doyle.

“I ended up a bit further back than I wanted, but she tracked up well and once I peeled off at the top of the straight I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me,’ he said.

Miss Selby finished over the top of Kelly O’Reilly to complete an O’Reilly quinella with Savabeel’s daughter Fancy Pants a strong third.