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Canterbury visitor Replique made the long trip home a pleasurable one for her connections when she scored a comprehensive victory in the Listed ILT Ascot Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at Winton.
A fast finishing second to New Zealand Derby contender Son of Maher at her last start indicated the royally bred Darci Brahma filly would be a serious contender for winning honours when next produced and so it proved as she dominated a handy line-up in the closing stages of Sunday’s contest.
Given a peach of a ride by senior South Island pilot, Terry Moseley, the daughter of multiple stakes placed mare Mystique bided her time beyond midfield during the early stages of a swiftly run contest. Moseley guided her around the pack as the field approached the home turn before taking charge early in the run home. The filly kept up a solid gallop to the post where she scored by three quarters of a length from a brave Sniparinda who chased hard throughout with Alyth running on nicely from well back to finish third.The victory has mentor Nick Wigley considering a late entry into next month’s Gr. 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks for the filly who provided him with his first stakes win as a trainer.
“We were confident of a good performance today as she has just been getting better and better during this campaign,” he explained.“She had a digestive problem early on and I wasn’t sure what to do with her but we took her to the coast where she went a good race at Hokitika and seemed to come right after that.
“She then won nicely at Ashburton and went a beauty last time.”Wigley was confident the step-up to 1600 metres was just the ticket for his charge after receiving positive feedback from both Moseley and Alysha Collett who had ridden her at her last start.
“Terry and Alysha both said she was crying out for more ground so I was pretty sure she would be strong at the finish today,” he said.“With that in mind we might have to take a punt and see if we can put in a late entry for the Oaks as it looks like staying will be her go. We never thought about it originally when the nominations closed but we have to now.”
Replique is a grand-daughter of the wonderful performer Seamist who numbered the Gr. 1 Auckland Stakes (now New Zealand Stakes) amongst her 12 career wins, while Gr. 2 New Zealand Cup winner Torlesse also features in her extended pedigree.