Group One for Blue Blood Filly - 1/2 sister to Anacheeva

A brave performance by O'Marilyn (O'Reilly) in the Group 1 $225,000 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Sires' Produce (1400m) has earned the filly a deserved victory at the elite level on Saturday.

O'Marilyn - Trish DunnellO'Marilyn - Trish DunnellThe daughter of O'Reilly has been among the top two-year-olds this season, finishing third in the $1m Karaka Million when hampered by a falling horse, before finishing a close second in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes, both times behind Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City).

The Stephen McKee trained filly was handed a wide barrier of 12 on Saturday and was forced to race three-wide without cover for regular rider Sam Spratt.

In the home straight, O'Marilyn dashed away from the field at the 200m to open up a break as her stablemate Prince Mambo (NZ) (Thewayyouare) raced home from the rear.

O'Marilyn had pinched a big enough break and held on gamely to win by a long neck over Prince Mambo, with Artic Wolf (NZ) (Keeper) finishing third to give Karaka graduates the trifecta.

O'Marilyn has had six starts in her career, all in this preparation, with a win on debut her other victory along with three minor placings.

She is owned by Stephen McKee's father and former training partner Trevor McKee along with B E Rissetto and has earned $255,325 in prizemoney. Trevor McKee purchased O'Marilyn at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for $130,000 from Cambridge Stud.

"It was very exciting to end up winning a Group 1 after being so consistent all season," commented part-owner Trevor McKee. "It was a bonus to do what she has done as a two-year-old.

"She is certainly bred to be better with a bit of age on her as a three-year-old and upwards. She is by O'Reilly out of a Zabeel mare that has already left three classic winners so everything looks towards her being better the older she gets.

"As a yearling, on type, she looked like a ready-made two-year-old, against what her breeding said and my judgement was right for a change."

Bred by Whakanui Stud, O'Marilyn is the third Group 1 winner for her dam Monroe Magic (Zabeel) also the dam of Group 1 Australian Derby winner Headturner (Anabaa) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Anacheeva (Anabaa) along with Group 2 winner Kroner (Viking Ruler).

O'Marilyn becomes the 23rd individual Group 1 winner out of a mare by recently retired super sire Zabeel. She is also the 12th Group 1 winner for the Waikato Stud sire O'Reilly, who last weekend sired the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes winner Silent Achiever (NZ) in Sydney.

NZB Release