In the 2200m, driver Brent Barclay stayed out of the early action from a wide draw, putting the three-year-old filly in one while Anita Mary’s stablemate Vice Chairman maintained the early pace. When Hillary rolled to the top with one lap to go, she left Anita Mary parked.
Coming in, she controlled Hillary and went to the line to win by a length from Route Sixty Six, who came late.
ANITA MARY AGAIN
The winning time was 2-43.5.
Anita Mary is from Glenburn Jewel. She was bred by Paul’s father Eddie and goes back to his foundation mare Newella. She won six races – three at Ascot Park. Newella is Anita Mary’s fourth mother.
“She’s the last one from Glenburn Jewel and is said to be from Always B Miki. After they did the DNA it turned out she was a Fear The Dragon. I don’t know if Caine (Stud Master Caine McIntrye) was having a bad day or if he just wanted a Fear The Dragon,” laughed Hailes, McIntrye’s brother-in-law.
Anita Mary was broken into at Macca Lodge and was then moved to Brett Gray’s Ryal Bush stable.
“She stepped in well and we just gave her some time because with our breed we don’t like to rush them. She was jogging with Macca and they were a bit busy. I asked Brett if he wanted to take over here in February last year and she qualified for her first prep for him in May.”
Everything indicated that Anita Mary would perform well today after an unfortunate second place on her debut.
“There was a false start. I was happy to see that she was doing everything right and I clocked her last half in 55.1, so that went quite well. She was swinging a little bit. We were excited about that second.”
Referring to his late mother Anita Mary, Paul said: “She was absolutely crazy about her horses. Her father Michael Francis Flynn was a horse trainer. Mother rode occasionally, she raced with Norham Fella before she died.”
Norham Fella won four races for Invercargill trainer Gil Shirley.
For full race results, click here.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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