A $210,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newhaven draft for Barry and Jan
McRostie, the Danny O'Brien trained filly surged to the line to win the 1100
metre sprint by half a length at her second run back from a spell.With three wins from nine starts and earnings close to $200,000, Merriest looks well placed to finish the season with a flourish.
"We held her back from the early part of the autumn because she doesn't like rock hard ground but there are some nice races from now through to the end of the season with her," Danny O'Brien revealed.
"We could go to Adelaide for the 1200m fillies and mares Group 1 (UBET Classic) or there's a Group 2 race for three-year-olds on the same day."
A stunning filly, Merriest was bred and sold by Newhaven Park and was the most expensive filly of the year by her sire Denman and looms as a worthy replacement for Barry and Jan McRostie's former star mare Miss Rose de Lago, who has been retired. .
She is the third foal and third winner out of the Melbourne winning Canny Lad mare Merrier a granddaughter of the top-class mare Scomeld, whose 12 wins included the Group I VRC Oaks.
Scomeld also made her mark at stud as the dam of Group III STC Sweet Embrace Stakes winner and Group I Australasian Oaks third Scollata.
Merrier produced a filly by Delago Deluxe last spring and is in foal to Pierro.
Denman stands at the affordable fee of $11,000 at Darley this spring.
