Senorita Margarita broke a fourteen year old track and Southland harness racing record when she won at Ascot Park yesterday.
The three year old filly by Vintage Master has only been in the south for six weeks after being leased out of Mark Jones stable.
Her 2-46.5 for the 2200 metre stand bettered Precious Title’s 2-47.1 set in 2003. The time also created a new all-comers record.
Now trained by Kirstin Barclay, Senorita Margarita began well and lead all the way for stable driver Andrew Suddaby.
“She stepped good. We weren’t too sure how she would go from a stand because both of her workouts had been from the mobile. I got her on the right foot and she went away good,” he said.
Suddaby was quick to assess the situation and with Spoilsport on his back – the rest of the field split into two bunches and strung out, he didn’t allow the chasers to make up any significant ground.
“I didn’t think I was going that quick but running 2-46 is probably why they were strung out. I had a look a few times and we were (the first two) out by a wee way so I just kept the pedal to the metal and it worked in the end.”
The winning margin was three quarters of a length with Ideal Art running second.
Senorita Margarita winning – Photo Bruce Stewart
“At the top of the straight I thought the others were going to get past me. She may have knocked off a bit and was waiting on the others. If we’d gone another 100 metres I still think she would have held them out (anyway).”
Senorita Margarita is out of the nineteen win Holmes Hanover mare Oaxaca Lass.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing