3 minute read
Dazzling Lady brought a phantom form line into the juvenile race at Te Rapa and it proved to be the winning one when she turned in a spirited performance to open her account.
The filly went one better in the Bloodstock Achieving Excellence Ltd 2YO on Saturday following a runner-up finish in December at Avondale where her event went uncovered.
“That was the race no-one saw when all the televisions went down,” Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee said.Dazzling Lady was beaten on that occasion by Selfie, who has subsequently run second in the Listed Karaka Million.
“Her work had been good leading up to this and she’s got some speed,” McKee said.Rider Sam Spratt used the daughter of Lonhro’s pace from the gates to good effect to lead, although they were given no peace by the unbeaten trials performer Element.
“They went pretty hard up front, but she showed a good kick,” McKee said.Dazzling Lady shook off a green Element to surge clear 250 metres from home and she had enough in reserve to see off the late rally of the favourite She Is Stryking.
Starstripe fought on bravely to take third money ahead of Enshrine and Element, who was wayward in the straight.McKee said his filly, who is part-owned by former All Black great Sir Colin Meads, was likely to head toward the Gr.2 Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes on February 21.
“That’s as long as she pulls up well and she does go a touch better left-handed.”Dazzling Lady is a half-sister to Stella’s Honour, who completed a notable family double when she won for the fourth time in her 12-start career in the Goldsmith’s Gallery 1400.
In-form jockey Rory Hutchings settled her at the back of the field and punched her through along the fence to beat Seize The Moment.“That was a really stunning effort,” said Chad Ormsby, who prepares the O’Reilly mare at Matamata with Michael Moroney.