Flying filly crowns top day for locals

Prom Queen capped a dream home meeting on Saturday for her trainers when the dashing filly once again proved too slick for her rivals.

Prepared at Ruakaka by Kenny and Lisa Rae and their daughter Krystal Williams, her victory in the Gr.3 Tavistock Northland Breeders’ Stakes followed earlier wins by her stablemates Kaharau and Inanna.

Undoubtedly, it was Prom Queen who was the star of the show and the daughter of Super Easy has now won seven of her eight starts and is unbeaten in both of her three-year-old outings.

“This is marvellous, she’s a freak of a horse,” Kenny Rae said. “She’s had her knockers off and on saying she won’t go any further, but how many times does a horse have to win to prove herself.”

Prom Queen was quickly into stride for rider Alysha Collett to sit outside the leader and she responded positively in the straight to sprint clear for a two and a half length victory.

“She’ll have her next run in the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie or in the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton,” Rae said.

“It will depend on the weather, I don’t want to run her on a heavy track and I still want to have a go at the 1000 Guineas. Maybe she won’t get the mile, we’ll see.”

Prom Queen was chased home by the stablemates Aim Smart and Felton Road with their trainer Tony Pike getting his wish to see both horses hitting the line well.

“Aim Smart needs a bigger, roomier track as he’s got a big action,” Pike said. “I didn’t want to trial him on a heavy track and he will take plenty of improvement from this.”

Aim Smart trailed fourth on the fence and finished his race off encouragingly while Felton Road came from last. Both horses are nominated for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11.