Olivia Thornley continued a great week in the South by winning the first heat of the Southern Oaks Series at Oamaru yesterday with Secret Wish.
The victory was the second leg of a winning double for the reinswoman who earlier scored a maiden win with Rovert Decision.
Thornley’s good day out at Oamaru came just three days after she took out the Group Three Northern Southland Cup at Ascot Park with Vessem for Secret Wish’s trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen.
Fresh-up from barrier 8 in a 2000m assignment, Thornley did not have too many early options with Secret Wish.
But that played to the filly’s strengths.
"She is a filly that if you go back through her form, she is pretty potent when she is saved up for one run.
"She had been off the scene since (New Zealand) Cup week and had only had a quiet trial, so I didn’t want to give her an over-taxing run.
"But everything worked out and she was really good today."
Thornley gave Rovert Decision a perfect trip in the one-one and the five-year-old made full use of it to break through for her maiden victory for trainer Michael Ward.
"She did deserve that win, she had been steadily improving with every start and it was good to see her break through."
Thornley scored both of her wins in the colours she wears as an ambassador for Team Teal, which raises funds for ovarian cancer research.
With her Northern Southland Cup victory, the reinswoman and her sponsors have boosted the fundraising coffers through her five wins during the campaign.
"It makes it even more special when you can get a win during Team Teal because it is such a great cause."
Thornley will compete in three Team Teal races for reinswomen at Westport on Friday.
Following his strong win in a hectic running of the Northern Southland Cup, Vessem will be aimed at the Group Three Autumn Free-For-All at Addington next week.
