The rise of three-year-old trotting filly Ya Rite Darl went to another level this afternoon at Ashburton as she dominated the country’s best three-year old trotters in the Group Three Neumanns Tyres Vipal Hambletonian 3yo Classic.
Despite the filly’s impressive formline – winning her last two starts including one of these at Group Two level – she was still allowed to go around a $6 third favourite. Those odds looked increasingly juicy after just 400m after first Habbiti Pat and then Meant To Be went off stride. While looked at early in the race, John was keen to keep the What The Hill filly in front and rolling. While she enjoyed some company from a recovering Meant To Be from the 800m, she always looked to be travelling better than the North Island visitor that showed how game and tough he was. Over the last 300m, John asked the filly to produce her best effort and she powered away to win by a length, closing off in a 28.1 last quarter.
Today’s victory was a further coming of age for a filly that has looked a lot stronger and tougher this time in, which combined with her great speed and manners makes her a potent threat to any opposition that she may face. The next target for the filly will be the Ascent Slot Race on Show Day, followed by the New Zealand Trotting Oaks a week later. She is well supported in the market for both races.