Racing: McKee wary of O'Marilyn's chances

O'Marilyn is a quiet horse at home - in contrast to McKee's former stable star Sunline.

Punters are backing O'Marilyn in today's $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas as if she was a former McKee stable star Sunline.

She isn't and trainer Stephen McKee believes the $1.70 on offer for O'Marilyn is unders.

"Don't get me wrong, I think she's probably good enough to win it, but there are a couple of fillies there she hasn't faced yet."

McKee's thinking is born of experience, sometimes bitter experience.

"In the autumn everyone knows the 3-year-old form and short odds can be justified, but in the spring some of the slower maturing fillies can improve quickly.

"The $1.70 at this stage of the season - I don't think so. A lot of that is because of the big bets the TAB is holding," said McKee.

"I think she's probably good enough to fend them off, but I wouldn't be taking the short odds about her."

A month or so back McKee said he was disappointed he hadn't thought of nominating O'Marilyn for the rich fillies races at the Melbourne spring carnival, but in retrospect that would have been risky.

Had the filly gone to Melbourne and struck a problem and was either beaten or didn't race she almost certainly wouldn't be in today's line-up and would have missed an important opportunity to increase her value.

Whatever value you place on O'Marilyn this morning, it will double if she wins today.

O'Marilyn is different from Sunline in another area - she has a kind nature.

"No, she's definitely different there," says McKee, "in fact, she's very quiet at home, but when she got to Christchurch she got very lively and started bucking her brands off. I gave her a bit of work and she's settled down again now."

Dramatist has stylishly won her last three, but in much easier company than she faces today. She can step up and it remains to be seen if that ladder reaches as high as the likes of O'Marilyn.

Regular rider Noel Harris could not come up with a reason why Avisto raced so far below her overall form in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa last start. Her usual driving finish was totally missing and she finished 5.7 lengths behind O'Marilyn.

It's possible it could have been the Te Rapa factor, which trips up the odd horse and if Avisto is in her correct form this track is going to her big-finishing style.

Platinum Witness looked good finishing fourth - 4L behind Turn Me Loose - in the 2000 Guineas last week and will find racing against her own sex here a lot easier. Trainer Lisa Latta has a good opinion of her.

Bonniegirl should have won at Ellerslie last start when she was narrowly beaten by a talented type in Huka Eagle.

She is very much a progressive filly and is an absolute must for all multiple bets.