Racing: There's something about O'Racheal - something a lot like Sunline

O'Racheal reminds Trevor McKee of Sunline. Photo / Trish Dunell

There was something about O'Racheal when Trevor McKee bought her from the Sydney yearling sales.

Something very Sunline.

And that's about the greatest recommendation you could provide the long-time horseman with.

"I actually bought her over the phone for A$50,000 ($53,000) but I'd seen photos of her leading into the sale and everything about her reminded me of Sunline at the same stage of development, same colour, same confirmation, although obviously a little smaller."

Be nice if O'Rachael was half as good as "the old girl" as McKee described her. "I'll settle for a quarter as good."

It's not fair to compare any horse with Sunline, but O'Rachael certainly has a fair share of ability. When second on debut she was beaten only by her barrier being slow to open and yesterday she sat wide and challenged around the home bend.

Sacred Elixier and Leith Innes looked certain to run past when they challenged at the 200m, but the filly dug in for the fight. She refused to yield and got her nose down at the right time to get the narrowest of margins that had everyone guessing.

Because of her Australian purchase she is ineligible to run in the Karaka Million and will target the Matamata Breeders Stakes and the Diamond Stakes at the Derby meeting at Ellerslie.

McKee and racing partner Brian Rissetto have bought a cheap filly. The stock of the now deceased Northern Meteor are much in demand and being from a Snippetson mare who had already left four winners makes O'Rachael a valuable commodity.

O'Rachael was narrowly beaten on debut at Avondale where her gate was slow to open and she overcame a torrid run on Monday to deservedly go one better in the Timeout 1200 at Ellerslie yesterday.

O'Rachael was caught three wide in the running and she fought on tenaciously after being in front at the top of the straight.

"She's a tough filly with a good attitude," rider Sam Spratt said. "She's going to improve a huge amount as well."

O'Rachael was challenged by the debutant Sacred Elixir in the closing stages, but prevailed by a nose with Attitudzeverything third. additional reporting NZ Racing Desk