By Michael Guerin
If your best horse has to lose her unbeaten record being beaten by your family isn’t the worst way for it to happen.
That was the story of the $60,000 Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Classique at Addington on Friday night where Becky’s Girl caused an upset downing the previously unbeaten Duchess Maria in the Group 2.
Becky’s Girl was bred by trainer Phil Williamson, is owned by his wife Bev and driven by one son Matty as they beat another son Nathan behind Duchess Maria.
She had to be good to win to coming from behind all the other favourites to grab Duchess Maria on the line with Petite Amour a brave third and favourite Marikit a shock failure after leading.
“We have always thought a bit of her and it is good to see her showing it,” said Phil Williamson.
“There are some important races coming up and Nath’s horse [Duchess Maria] might beat us in those because she was good tonight and probably needed the run.
“But our filly was really good and she might keep getting better too and this is a lovely race to get with her.”
Becky’s Girl is out of the former smart mare Alderbeck, who Phil also trained and her win has shown just how deep this three-year-old fillies crop is.
The trotting fillies weren’t the only age group reps putting on a show on Friday night as Faith Not Fear was comically fast winning his Woodlands Sires’ Stakes heat.
After starting from the second line Sam Ottley actually secured him a perfect run in the one-one but the way he made up two lengths on leader and stablemate Chiggsy before running away to win was simply stunning.
He has plenty to learn but he is dazzling and now the favourite for the Sires’s Stakes Final on Cup Day.
Another market mover after Friday was Kawatiri Trev who shortened from $18 to $10 in the market for the NZ Trotting Derby with a brutal staying win against older trotters earlier.
He made no use of barrier 1 for new driver Anthony Butt but when launched simply outstayed his older rivals.
He looks a Dominion horse for next season while also heading to the big time in open class but set to get there first is J T Boe.
He overcame a 25m backmark with ease in the main handicap pace, although it is admittedly hard to tell how easily J T Boe is doing anything as he mucks around so much when he hits the front he could have another gear or two left.
One thing is for sure, his motor is ready for open class soon even if his brain may take another year to catch up.
And Wat Fun returned looking like a juvenile filly in a hurry as she led and held on in a strong race to emphasis again the great depth of the youngsters in the Cullen camp.