Trainer Chrissy Bambry celebrated her recent engagement with a huge result at Hastings yesterday when Flower of Wānaka downed a solid line-up of fillies and mares in the Tauranga Classic (1400m).
Flower of Wānaka made light of her support on the tote, which saw her start at odds of better than $45, as she produced a resolute finish to hold out the fast-finishing Secret Amour and another outsider in Shelbyrock’n.
Unsighted since finishing third at Ōtaki in November, the one-race winner didn’t look out of her grade as she travelled sweetly during the contest where race favourite Wessex set up a breakneck speed in front.
Wessex began to battle at the 200m as Flower of Wānaka and rider Lily Sutherland swept to the front, quickly putting the final result beyond doubt as they took the win by just on two lengths.
Bambry, who recently returned from a break in Fiji with fiance Andrew Lacy, was thrilled to get the victory with a mare she describes as “an absolute honey”.