Racing: Pike tips mare Kelly O'Reilly for big future

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Co-trainer Tony Pike is convinced that the dominant win of Kelly O'Reilly on Saturday is a sign she is ready to step up to the elite level over the next few weeks.

The daughter of O'Reilly treated her rivals with disdain as she swept to a comfortable win over 1400m at Ellerslie and set herself up for a crack at the Listed Windsor Park Stud Rotorua Stakes (1400m) in a month's time.

"I've thought she was on the cusp of stakes company for the past 12 months but has taken time to fully mature into her frame," explained Pike.

"She has definitely come back much stronger this time in and with that win under her belt she deserves a go at black-type over the next few months while the tracks aren't too deep.

"The race at Rotorua is at weight-for-age against her own sex so it will suit her well although she doesn't want a real bog track as, although she prefers the cut in the track, she won't handle it if it gets very heavy."

Despite the mare's development in this campaign, Pike isn't keen to put her on a plane for a tilt at the riches of the Queensland Winter Carnival this year, preferring to keep her racing at a local level at this stage.

"I definitely think she will be good enough for a Brisbane campaign next year but she is still 12 months away from that type of assignment so we will keep her racing here before she goes out for a winter spell," he said.

"We do have several runners heading to Brisbane though with Rock Diva set for the Queensland Oaks while Allez Eagle and Sacred Star are also pencilled in for races during the Carnival."

Pike was also thrilled with the performance of classy mare Chintz who failed by a bare half head to snare a Group One win when she finished second to Albany Reunion in the Manco Easter Handicap on Saturday.

"She went absolutely super as she was held up for a half a stride at the 200m mark but she tried her heart out in the end and was probably in front just past the post," said the co-trainer.

"You can't take it away from the winner though as he was three wide for the trip and deserved the win," he said.

"We will monitor her over the next week and if she looks like she has had enough she will go to the spelling paddock however if she is bright we may have a go at the Travis Stakes at Te Rapa on the 26th of April as her last run for this campaign."