 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 2000
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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A tactical decision by Colin De Filippi to outsprint Hawera rather than outstay her was the turning point in the win by Kym's Girl in the NZ Premier Mares Championship.
A renowned fast-finisher coming off the back of horses, Kym's Girl was up for a stayer's run - which she had managed so well on the track a fortnight earlier. Given the chance of a breather on Hawera's back briefly in the straight, instead of sustaining a hard push wider out, De Filippi took it. Gambling on Kym's Girl still being sharp enough to deliver her sting from cover, De Filippi brought her out at the 100m. The operation was skilfull, the timing was precision-perfect, and Kym's Girl cut it fine but made it by a nose.
Owners Dave Miller, Graham Trist and Bill Marra were again lavish in their credits for the driver. "Colin has been a huge help in getting Kym's Girl to where she is. He has driven her in 11 of her 12 wins and in most of her other races, but when things haven't gone her way he has never knocked her around. She has always been able to come back and pick her form up again," said Trist.
Miller is a pig farmer and small-time trainer, though he is keen to be out of the pigs and more into training. Besides Kym's Girl and C1 pacer Afella's Joy, he is working a sister to Afella's Joy, and 2-year-olds by Motu Mister Smooth and Man Araound Town. "Dave deserves as much credit," said Trist. "He gives her a slow build-up over the winter and has her at peak for Cup Day," he said.
By their own admission, the partners operate at the lower end of the market, and Miller won his first two races with Cosby, a son of Lord Module. He has no stock by the high-flying sires in his stable, and he has a share in four foals this season by the sire of Kym's Girl, Man Around Town. The partners are on good terms with studmaster and historian Jim Dalgety, who predicted when the mare was C4 she would make Cup class. He also beat the drum for Man Around Town, sending a number of mares to him this season including Happy Hazel, 1:57.6, the Vance Hanover mare, Vancellini Queen, and Koau Dream (Knowing Bret-Daisy Charles).
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 15Mar00