She’s Poppy (NZ) Passes $200,000 With Second Stakes Win

She’s Poppy (NZ) (Alamosa), who cost $40,000 at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, took her earnings past $200,000 with victory in Saturday’s $80,000 Group 3 Boehringer Ingelheim 1550 at Awapuni.

The Wanganui mare has been in outstanding form this year, winning the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1550m) in May and adding placings in the Listed Ag Challenge Stakes (1590m) and Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) in her two subsequent appearances.

On Saturday she unleashed a potent finishing burst from midfield, finishing over the top of Art Deco (NZ) (Road to Rock) and Dez (NZ) (Zed) in a tight three-way finish.

“I’ve never ridden a horse with a heart that size, she really tries,” rider Shaun McKay said.

Trained by Raymond Connors, who shares ownership with his parents Mark and Eris, She’s Poppy has now won eight of her 28 starts and $214,595 in prize-money – more than five times her purchase price.

“She’s had a great winter and is a good mare,” Connors said.