Royal success a touching moment for Hills

3 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Emotions ran high in the Ellerslie birdcage after Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) trounced her fellow fillies in the G2 Valachi Downs Royal S.

Her upset victory came off the back of a previous maiden success on her home track at Matamata, but she had showed she was well above-average in the spring when fifth in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Imelda Mary is trained by part-owner and former successful jump jockey Wayne Hillis, who described the win as one of the most satisfying of his extensive career.

“I’ve been in racing all my life and had some good thrills, but this is right up there.” - Wayne Hillis

“It’s very special,” he said. “This filly is named after my mum, so it’s unbelievable. I’ve been in racing all my life and had some good thrills, but this is right up there.”

Oaks the main aim

Imelda Mary was capably handled by Cameron Lammas, who gave her a quiet run in midfield near the fence and once a gap presented in the straight the filly was through in a flash.

The central districts visitor Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) and the well fancied maiden Luminous (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) both made ground strongly, but Imelda Mary had the break she held a strong gallop to be better than a length to the good at the post.

Imelda Mary has been set on a Classic path by Hillis, but he’s eyeing another return to Ellerslie for a tasty prize.

“She’s in the Oaks as that is her main target, but I’ll freshen her up and have a go at the Karaka Million.” – Wayne Hillis.

“She’s in the Oaks as that is her main target, but I’ll freshen her up and have a go at the Karaka Million. She is eligible for that,” he said.

“It’s a mile, so whether that is far enough, or she wants to keep going further I’m not sure, but we’ve got to have a go.

“I was pretty confident (at Ellerslie), but you can’t be over confident in these big races. Just with the way she was running on, definitely we were confident.”

Bargain Karaka buy

Imelda Mary was a cheap purchase for Hillis, who plucked her out of Haunui Farm’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale draft for NZ$3500.

Watch: Imelda Mary as a yearling

She is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Eleesha, whose dam is a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and former champion Australian 2-year-old filly Fashions Afield (Redote's Choice).

The Royal S. was the fifth event in the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series with Imelda Mary taking the eight points on offer.

The series is currently led by 1000 Guineas winner Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) on 12 points with Imelda Mary, Pinmedown (NZ) (Pins) and Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) tied in second.