Big Day for Fillies in Wanganui Features

Racing at Wanganui on Saturday saw a number of three-year-olds make their anticipated return to the track with the Listed Fordell O'Leary's Stakes for the fillies and the Listed Wanganui Guineas on the card.

With a promising line up of fillies in the Listed Fordell O'Leary's Stakes (1340m), it was the Graeme & Debbie Rogerson trained Dowager Queen (NZ) (Savabeel x Dower) who led home a NZB quinella with a very impressive performance after coming back from a spell.

Spotting the leaders nine lengths 600 metres from home, Dowager Queen came from last and was brought very wide by jockey Jason Collett at the top of the straight. Showing her class the three-year-old immediately quickened on straightening and set out after the leaders, and held off a strong bid from another NZB graduate Testa Secret (Testa Rossa) to win by a short head.

With Dowager Queen and Testa Secret winning stakes races as two-year-olds, to see them come from the back of the field and finish two-lengths ahead of River Nymph (Captain Rio) who finished in third is a positive sign. Both fillies hold nominations for the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas on November 12.

Savabeel has a number of promising horses coming through for the spring including Dowager Queen, Scarlett Lady, Group 2 placed Strike the Stars and Listed placed Sangster.

Dowager Queen also holds nominations for the Australian features including the 1000 Guineas and the Cox Plate.

Dowager Queen was bred by Bruce Reid & Sons Pty Ltd, Ron Moclair, Graeme Rogerson, Max Whitby & James Woodward and was purchased by the Two in One Syndicate from Dormello Stud at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $50,000.

The Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) saw another filly Whoshe (NZ) (Storm Creek x Lesley Coup) trump the boys for her trainers Richard Otto & Mark Brooks.

In just six starts, Whoshe has notched up an impressive record with three wins with Saturday's victory her second at black-type level.

With the Wanganui Guineas always attracting a strong field, Saturday's running was no exception with horses including the 2011 Karaka Million winner Fort Lincoln (Charge Forward), Dollario (Captain Rio) and last start Ryder Stakes winner Snow Excuse (No Excuse Needed) all contesting the feature.

However, Whoshe put in a big performance and was among the first into the straight for jockey Danielle Johnson and the pair extended impressively in the final half furlong, running away from the field to register a one-and-a-half-length win.

Running into second was Cruiser (Captain Rio) who ran on nicely from the back of the field with Fieldofdreams (Bachelor Duke) taking third, giving NZB the trifecta and a clean sweep of the meetings feature races.

Whoshe holds nominations for the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas and the 2000 Guineas in November.

Whoshe is the 18th stakes winner for her sire Storm Creek and was bred by Mrs J C Cunningham, Mrs A M & R Horrocks, Stoney Bridge Thoroughbred Ltd and Mrs E E & Miss R A Waller and was purchased by Noel MacDonald from Twin Pines at the 2009 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $5,000.

An astute purchase, the filly has now returned over $58,000 in stakes from only six starts.