The covers came off O’Marilyn at Hastings where she made an early play for three-year-old honours to go with a decorated juvenile campaign.

The outstanding daughter of O'Reilly drew first blood in the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year series on Saturday with an impressive first-up performance to claim the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes.

Unraced since her Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes triumph in the autumn, O'Marilyn emphasised her class and acceleration in the closing 250 metres to get herself out of trouble.

“It was a bit tricky at times and it got a bit tight up the straight and I knew all I needed was a needle eye gap as she’s got such a great turn of foot,” rider Sam Spratt said.

O'Marilyn was at first denied a run between horses before she was switched to the fence and she didn’t need any persuasion to rail home strongly for a length victory that cut her Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas odds in half to $4.

“That’s the best draw (three) she’s had and she missed away,” trainer Stephen McKee said. “It was a little bit eerie at the 300 until a gap opened up.”

“Obviously, the Guineas at Christchurch is her main aim, but how we get there I’m not that sure yet – probably the Sarten Memorial next.”

Jason Bridgman’s Flaming also gave an excellent account of herself with a bold finish from the back of the field for second while Shees Flawless, in her first appearance for Roger James, was a bold third.

The effort of Cherry Vain to finish fourth from an outside gate was another meritorious performance but, in contrast, last season’s Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Lady Royale showed very little on her return.

She jumped straight to the front under Johnathon Parkes, but found nothing in the run home and couldn’t beat a runner home.