One of the joys of doing what I do is to be involved with winning a significant race on more than one occasion.
Recommended matings All In Fun, Bodie and Tinseltown all won the Rotorua Cup and I was hoping that today’s edition of the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes would produce a third success in the race for Cloughmore. Brown Eyed Grace had been successful in 2009 and La Diosa in 2016; this year Emily Margaret (Pins-Seven Schillings) faced the starter and, after her effortless victory a fortnight ago, those hopes were high.
However, as befits a black type event, today’s field was much stronger. It featured impressive Showcasing filly Wekaforce and a number of other winners. Equally daunting was the fact that Emily Margaret had drawn the ace – never an advantage if you’re a back-runner in a capacity field.
I need not have worried. Jasmine Fawcett kicked the Kevin Hughes – trained filly out of the gates. Soon Wekaforce was outside her and the two three-year olds measured strides. At the top of the straight it appeared that Wekaforce was travelling more easily but when the pressure went on it was the Pins filly that finished the stronger to record a half-length victory.
Emily Margaret is clearly anything but a one-dimensional racehorse and appears likely to be well suited by the rigours of the 1600 metres of the Group 1 1000 Guineas. You’d suspect that she’d be happier settling back and saving energy before unleashing her powerful finishing burst, but it’s a relief to know that if she has to race on-pace (and how often do on-pace runners win Guineas races at Riccarton?) she is well capable of doing just that.
Let’s hope that she can emulate La Diosa and give her trainer that elusive Group 1 prize.
