Lynsey Satherley’s affinity with underrated stayers continued at Ellerslie on Saturday, guiding My Maebelline Girl (NZ) (Shamoline Warrior) to victory and a place in next week’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).
Satherley secured the ride aboard Cup favourite Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) after a sterling effort paying $14 in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and was tasked with a similar quote when partnering Kylie Little’s mare in the Vertical Logistics Nathans Memorial.
My Maebelline Girl was among the lesser-favoured runners in the Open 2200m contest, with a valiant front-running effort for sixth in the Remutaka Classic (2100m) preceding a last-placed finish over 2000m last Saturday at Matamata.
On the quick back-up, the daughter of Shamoline Warrior was slick from barrier four, taking up the pace-making role over another regular leader in Good Oil. Satherley maintained a solid tempo down the back-straight, before allowing My Maebelline Girl to extend nearing the home turn creating a three-length buffer, leaving many in the nine-horse field flat-footed.
Good Oil began to close at the 200m as the mare began to tire, as was a storming 60kg topweight Trust In You, but My Maebelline Girl kept finding and fought off the latter by a short head at the post.
“It was a good, tough effort. With 54kg on her back, I let her slide from the 700m and gave a good kick turning for home, and she sustained a solid gallop the whole way,” Satherley said.
“You’re never too confident (leading down the straight), but she’s got the job done and it’s a great dollar for the owners and trainer.”
Little was delighted following the mare’s fourth career victory, the Cambridge horsewoman also sharing in her ownership.
“It’s such a thrill. My trackwork rider thought she would come and run a good race, so we had our fingers and toes crossed, and we got there,” Little said.
“Lynsey rated her beautifully, it was a great ride.”
The Nathans Memorial offered a final opportunity for horses to gain a ballot free exemption into the Auckland Cup, a place Little hopes to fulfil next Saturday.
“She was in the Auckland Cup, but we had thought we might wait a week and go to the St Leger, a lot depended on her performance today. But, on that effort, as long as she pulls up okay, we might have a crack at the Cup.”
My Maebelline Girl’s efforts warranted a dramatic rise in the Cup’s TAB Futures market to $21, while Trust In You looks an ominous hope stepping out to 3200m, now sitting a $7 equal second-favourite, just adrift of Asterix ($5).
Asterix performed a track-gallop between races at Ellerslie with his regular track rider, while Satherley watching on ahead of next Saturday’s iconic feature.
“I watched him (track gallop) at Matamata, he doesn’t look like he does a hell of a lot, but he’s looks in great order and I’m lucky to be on him,” she said.
“It would mean a lot to win, it’s a $500,000 race and it’ll pay a few bills.”
