29.01.12
McArdle fillies star on both sides of the Tasman
The NZ bred McArdle filly Marquess De Posh was a superb winner of the $40,000 Group 3 Harness Breeders NSW J L Raith Memorial (1,609m) at Tabcorp Park, Menangle on Saturday evening, leading throughout to score in a stunning time of 1:54.5.
The Paul Fitzpatrick trained filly blasted to the lead from barrier 4 and kept the speed on throughout, repelling the challenge of another boom 3yo filly, Lettucereason, who sat outside of her for much of the race, to score by a neck at the line.
It was the classy filly's sixth win from just seven starts, with Saturday's prize-money improving her earnings to almost $60,000.
Marquess De Posh is out of the unraced Armbro Operative mare, Freemantle Sunset.
In NZ, the very smart 3yo filly Castellina Lover maintained her unbeaten record of three from three with a devastating win in an $18,000 Nevele R Fillies Series heat (1,700m) at Invercargill on Saturday afternoon.
Giving the leaders a five length head start at the top of the straight, Castellina Lover displayed an awesome turn of foot to mow them down and score by one and a half lengths from Vanilla Rose and Pemberton Shard in a mile rate of 1:59.1.
Bred on the same cross as Tintin In America, Castellina Lover is the second foal of the four-win In The Pocket mare Delizioso, a half sister to the brilliant Under Cover Lover, as well as the dam of champion filly Bettor Cover Lover.
It was a great weekend for McArdle with him siring a treble at the Invercargill meeting with the 3yo's Adghal and Howzat victorious along with Castellina Lover. Earlier in the weekend Smo recorded his third career win at Alexandra Park on Friday evening and on Sunday Excuse Maker took out the Oamaru Cup.
