Guineas target for unbeaten filly

NZ Racing Desk
24 February 2019
Our Hail Mary strides clear at Otaki Photo: Race Images, Peter Rubery
 
Trainer Allan Sharrock will lift his sights with promising three-year-old Our Hail Mary after she maintained her unbeaten record with a comprehensive victory over 1200m at Otaki on Saturday.
 
The Ocean Park filly had looked above average when sweeping to victory over 1100m on her home patch at New Plymouth last month and maintained that impression with another outstanding performance on the weekend.
 
Settled near last by rider Dylan Turner, Our Hail Mary eased to the outer at the 600m before moving around the field to join issue shortly after commencing the run home. The filly found plenty over the last 100m to draw clear of her rivals as she scored by a neat length from Floral Belt, who chased her hard all the way home
 
Sharrock was taken by the performance of the filly who is from Ekraar mare Repenting, a full sister to his multiple Group One winner, Shez Sinsational.
 
“That was terrific although she really is a 2000m filly,” he said.
 
“She’s out of a full sister to Shez Sinsational and I think she is a really really nice horse.”
 
Sharrock, who outlaid $35,000 for the filly when purchasing her out of the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2017 National Yearling Sale, believes she has what it takes to compete at a higher level when she steps up in distance.
 
“I think I stole her,” he said
 
“She is looking for ground now as she was off the bridle at the 700m, probably a little bit sloppy in the ground, but she was tenacious.
 
“I think the Wellington Guineas is coming up so we could be looking at that as she is a very good horse.”
 
The Gr.2 Norwood Family Wellington Guineas (1400m) is one of the feature events at Trentham on March 16.
 
Sharrock looks likely to have another feature contender running at Trentham that day with Reliable Man three-year-old filly Schist enhancing her prospects for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) when closing off strongly for second over 2100m behind Platinum Invador in the last race of the day. 

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