Racing: Regrets, McKee has a few

O'Marilyn scoots clear of her rivals in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa yesterday. Photo / Thinkstock

However top trainer did it his way and will tackle the NZ 1000 Guineas with O’Marilyn.

Two weeks ago Auckland horseman Stephen McKee regretted not having nominated O'Marilyn for Melbourne's 1000 Guineas.

That regret probably deepened when the classy act easily toppled the opposition in yesterday's $70,000 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa. Now it looks as though the New Zealand version of the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton next month is at her mercy.

O'Marilyn was heavily backed to beat top-class males Vinnie Eagle and Turn Me Loose and the money proved accurate.

Vinnie Eagle and Turn Me Loose did themselves no favours by being tardy out of the barriers, Turn Me Loose tailing off by 2 lengths and Vinnie Eagle swooping around the field in the first 400m to lead.

Both disadvantaged themselves. Vinnie Eagle skipped clear at the 300m, but had no answer to O'Marilyn's typical devastating finish.

McKee didn't nominate O'Marilyn to tackle the males again in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, but this is a nomination he has no regrets about.

"It's a tough call on a very firm track with only a week between races," said McKee yesterday. "Happy for her to have only the one race down there."

That's music to the ears of Vinnie Eagle's trainer Tony Pike. "Yes, I've been hoping that filly wasn't going to the 2000 Guineas."

Pre-race Pike was keen to see whether he thought Vinnie Eagle would step up from yesterday's 1400m to the 1600m of the 2000 Guineas. He seemed happy enough to declare the likelihood was that the colt will be going south.

Turn Me Loose did a remarkable job to finish third, coming from 12 lengths off the leader.

Each time Vavasour has gone to the races the distances have been too short. The 1600m of the maiden race at Te Rapa yesterday fixed that for the beautifully-bred Redoute's Choice filly, but co-trainer Peter Williams is a long way from satisfied.

"I can't wait to get this filly to 2000m and even 2400m," said Williams after Vavasour made the opposition look ordinary.

Williams told rider Danielle Johnson not to worry if she and Vavasour found the front early. That's what happened and not only did the favourite look comfortable in a new role, the way she won gives the Williams stable another option in race tactics.

The big decision now will be whether Vavasour is taken to Riccarton for the 1600m 1000 Guineas. Williams said it was probably a 50:50 call: "But I'll need to talk it over with the owners.

"There are some nice races after Christmas, like the 2000m Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and the 2400m of the Oaks."

One definite visitor to Riccarton is Blizzard, who won his third race from his past four starts.

Blizzard will be aimed at the New Zealand Cup and will not start again in the meantime.

"He's a bit delicate and doesn't take a lot of racing, so we'll just play around with him until the Cup," said Cambridge co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne."

O'Marilyn wins easily
*Filly proves too classy for allcomers in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa yesterday.
*She appears to have the 1000 Guineas at her mercy.
*New Zealand Cup hopeful Blizzard will also head to Riccarton next month.