Becky’s Girl upstages fillies in Classique

Oamaru trotting filly Becky’s Girl (Majestic Son) upstaged some more favoured runners to narrowly win the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Classique at Addington tonight.

After the early rush, driver Matty Williamson made sure he got Becky’s Girl on the back of the favourite Duchess Maria, driven by his brother Nathan. He trailed her all the way to the straight and when Duchess Maria shot away turning in, it looked like race over. But as Duchess Maria’s condition gave out, the race hardened Becky’s Girl came late and got in the deciding stride to win by a head with eight and a half lengths back to Petite Armour.

BECKY’S GIRL REPLAY

“I was rapt with her. I’ve always had a bit of an opinion of her and it’s getting to the time for her to show it,” trainer Phil Williamson said.

It was the third time Phil has won this race. His previous success came with Isolate in 2023 and Empire City in 2024 and the win for Becky’s Girl was her fourth in eleven starts.

There was plenty to like about runner up Duchess Maria who after a long break away from the racetrack and an interrupted preparation stuck on gamely for second.

“She’s a wonderful filly and there’s no doubt that she’ll be beating us from now on, but we got one today,” Phil said.

The winning time of 2-25.9 was a second outside the race record of 2-24.7 set by Wanna Play With Me.

The Hayden and Amanda Cullen trained Wat Fun (Bettor’s Delight) led and held on to win the two year old fillies feature – the Downbytheseaside ‘Making a Splash’ Mobile Pace.

She worked her way to the top early and held out favourite Suva Baby to win by a head with half a head back to Nelle Keenan.

“She’s very green and has got a bit to learn, but she’s got a motor. She didn’t feel like she would get beat. She was just waiting on the others to come and when she heard them, she dug in again,” said driver Olivia Thornley after the win.

The Cullens made it a double when the highly talented Faith Not Fear (Captaintreacherous) won the $30,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old heat.

Driver Sam Ottley created a beautiful pathway for the two year old as stablemate Chiggsy made all the play.

As the field straightened for the run to the line, Ottley hooked Faith Not Fear out to make his run and within a few strides he’d reined in Chiggsy. Despite getting on one rein, Faith Not Fear went down to the line with his plugs still in to win by a length and three quarters from a brave Chiggsy.

“He’s got electric speed, that’s for sure. The plugs are still in tonight. I didn’t get a chance (to pull them) not that I needed to because he had such electric speed when he stepped the wheel. As you saw up the straight he was still ducking and diving. He got to them that quick, then he sort of knocked off. There’s still improvement there in the wee fella,” Ottley said.  

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink