Dual Group Two winner and NZB Filly of the Year Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax) is the latest quality off the track mare to be offered on Gavelhouse Plus.
Prepared by Wayne Hillis, Imelda Mary was forward enough to race as a November two-year-old, finishing third on debut and runner up twice in her six juvenile starts.
Imelda Mary showed enough early in her three-year-old season to warrant a start in the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas (1600m) where she made up plenty of ground for a creditable fifth to Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) before breaking maiden ranks next start.
That maiden was the perfect launching pad to her first stakes success when landing the Gr.2 Royal Stakes at Ellerslie (2000m) on New Year’s Day.
Two starts later she took out the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) when comfortably defeating subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel), who would win the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at her next start.
Future Group One winner Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel) and recent Group Two winner Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) were also amongst the vanquished in the Te Rapa feature.
A six-year-old daughter of the Group One winning Pentire stallion Ferlax, Imelda Mary won five of her 33 starts with a further six placings.
“She is a special mare to us not only because she’s been so successful but because she’s named after my mother,” Wayne Hillis said.
“She had a powerful finish on her and her Group Two wins were massive highlights as Mum, who is in a home now, was on course for them.
“She was also talented enough to compete in both of the Karaka Million races (2YO and 3YO) and should have gone better in the three-year-old but was back last turning for home.
“She is out of an Encosta de Lago mare and her second dam is a Redoute’s Choice sister to multiple Group One winner Fashion’s Afield. She has some great broodmare sires on her maternal side and her fourth dam is the Bletchingly mare Wrap Around, a very fast mare who won seven races including the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).
“We’re going to miss having her around the stables.”
Bidding will end on Gavelhouse Plus from 7pm (NZT) on Monday 25 April.
