Mill Duckie – GR Kelt Memorial Hopeful
On the first weekend of October, each year, the Hastings Racecourse in New Zealand comes alive with spectacular horse racing action. The GR Kelt Memorial, is a Group 3 event, run over a distance of 1 600 meters and has a handsome purse of $70 000. It is a supporting race for both the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and the Kelt Capital Stakes, but attracts a great number of worthy contenders each year, and is an anticipated event on the New Zealand racing calendar.
Last year, the GR Kelt Memorial was won by Mufhasa, who was also the Horse of the Year, and even though not celebrity studded, the event has received fourteen entries, including a mare that everyone has been talking about, Mill Duckie. This talented filly has shown the horse racing industry that she has the heart and the determination of a great athlete and has delivered quite a few breathtaking performances, making her one of the favorites for the GR Kelt Memorial. Even though great athletes such as Hold It Harvey, Who Knows and Bulginbaah will join Mill Duckie in the starting gates, this filly will be the horse to beat, as she strives to reel in her ninth victory.
Prior events that Mill Duckie had great performances in include the New Zealand Oaks and the ARC Sunline Vase. In her thirteen career starts, she has placed twice and won eight races, carving a successful racing career in a very competitive industry. But during the running of the 2009 GR Kelt Memorial, it is hoped that the daughter of Magic Ring, will once again pull an amazing race out of the bag, and add this event to her list of victories. Trainer Richard Collett knows all too well, that she is capable of delivering a few surprises, as she did at Ruakaka in her first race of the season, where against all predictions; she won in a spectacular fashion. However, he also knows that line up is tough, with fellow contenders being, Bulginbaah, Who Knows, Hold It Harvey, Elblitzem, Occidentalis, The Twist, El Santo, Happy Harry, Awesome Planet, Marty Boy, Miss Caruso, Mohican Brave and Howie.
