Blackwood Star turned her form around in style with a superior staying performance to win the time-honoured Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham.
The daughter of Westbury Stud resident Redwood hadn’t been a factor in her first two outings this preparation, but the mare relished the step up to 2200 metres on Saturday.
Trained by Dan O’Leary, Blackwood Star left her rivals with no excuses as the lightly raced seven-year-old sat at the tail of the field in a slowly run race.
She picked up ground across the top and held a sustained finish for the fourth victory of her 19-start career in the hands of Kate Hercock.
“It’s great to have her back, she just wasn’t hitting out on the firmer tracks for her first two starts and that wasn’t good for her,” O’Leary said.
“Her work has been fine, but I was wondering whether she wanted to really stretch out properly and we got that as Kate had her in a lovely rhythm throughout.
“Now the wet tracks have really arrived I think she can hold her form as this win will give her plenty of confidence.
“In saying that I don’t have anything specific planned for her, we will just take it step by step as the opportunities present themselves.”
Bred and raced by O’Leary with wife Jane Nugent-O’Leary, Blackwood Star is the first foal of the Traditionally mare Miss Ana, who was successful on six occasions including success in an edition of the Waverley Cup.
Her pedigree page features the presence of the G2 Eight Carat Classic winner and G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Stakes placegetter Smoulder, dam of the G3 War Decree Stakes winner Burn To Shine.
