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Stephen McKee is heading to places he didn’t initially think O’Rachael was capable of going to.
The Ardmore trainer has been pleasantly surprised by the progress of the filly, who should be boasting an unbeaten record.
O'Rachael was narrowly beaten on debut at Avondale where her gate was slow to open and she overcame a torrid run on Monday to deservedly go one better in the Timeout 1200 at Ellerslie.“It would be fair to say that she hasn’t had much luck in either of her starts,” said McKee, who prepares the daughter of Northern Meteor with Eddie Chippendale.
“To be honest, we didn’t think that much of her earlier on. She ran last in her first trial and then improved to just get beaten in her second one.“She doesn’t do a lot at home so it was hard to get a line on her before that first race day start.”
McKee has quickly change his opinion of O’Rachael and she will now be set for black type events.“She looks the ideal type to take to the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and if she’s going well enough she can come back here for the Group One (Diamond Stakes),” he said.
She is owned by McKee’s father and long-time stable client Barry Rissetto, who also raced last year’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and Gr.1 Diamond Stakes runner-up O’Marilyn.O’Rachael was caught three wide in the running and she fought on tenaciously after being in front at the top of the straight.
“She’s a tough filly with a good attitude,” rider Sam Spratt said. “She’s going to improve a huge amount as well.”O’Rachael was hotly challenged by the debutant Sacred Elixir in the closing stages, but prevailed by a nose with the pair clear of the third placegetter Attitudzeverything.