Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Unheralded Almanzor filly Positivity (Almanzor) sprang an upset at Ellerslie on Saturday when she fought doggedly in the run home to take out the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) and claim her first stakes victory.
The Andrew Forsman-prepared three-year-old was having just her fifth start and had looked a likely staying prospect when breaking her maiden status over 1600m a Tauranga at just her second start.
She was spotted running on nicely in two subsequent efforts in black-type company without much luck, however, punters overlooked those performances as she drifted to $18 in the Fixed Odds market which was headed up by Qali Al Farrasha ($3.30).
Rider Masa Hashizume made a mid-race move on a moderate tempo to sit outside the leader from the 1400m before tackling pacemaker Nepheti shortly after turning for home.
Qali Al Farrasha joined issue quickly and hit the front however Positivity refused to give in and fought back strongly to take the win by just on half a length as Still Bangon made up good ground from well back to finish third.
Forsman stable representative Gemma Hewetson was delighted with the filly who holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubal New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham later this month.
“That’s just so good as she has just got better every time she has gone to the races,” she said.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck her last two starts and this was a good tough run.
“Andrew has always held a big opinion of her as she is a beautiful filly.
“She had done everything right and we didn’t go Hastings with her (for the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes, 2100m) which was a blessing and she has done it here today.”
Hashizume, who was completing a double for the day after taking out race one aboard Gentian Blue, was full of praise for the filly after they were trapped wide early in the race.
“We got caught three wide early so may initial thought was to go and lead,” he said.
“I wanted to take a sit early but had to roll forward and when they came up her in the straight, she switched on and it was a very tough win.
“After the line she was about to pull up, but when another horse went past her she grabbed the bit and tried to keep going though I think she can go further.”
Raced by Ben Kwok who purchased her for $160,000 out of the Woburn Farm draft during the Book 1 sale at Karaka, Positivity was bred by the late Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Justine Hogan along with Peter Walker.
She is out of Walker’s Group One placegetter Pussy O’Reilly and from an extended family that includes stakes winners Pussy Willow, Dopff and Valpolicella.
TAB Bookmakers have installed her as the equal $8 favourite alongside Still Bangon for the New Zealand Oaks on 16 March
