The 5yr-old daughter of His Royal Highness was an impressive winner of the maiden 1600m at Oamaru, galloping away from her nearest rival Cos I Can by 4 lengths despite paying $37.20 on the tote.
But her trainer, Stephen Blair-Edie, of Riverton, is just grateful to have the daughter of his good racemare, Fly The Coop (four wins, $40,250), still with him after an accident in the barriers at the Gore trials about a year ago.
''She flipped up in the barriers down home and just about died,'' Blair-Edie said.
''She lost about a bucket of blood and they were about to put her down.
''They called me up and I was out in the backblocks. I said `don't put her down'.''
With that near-death experience out of the way, Blair-Edie could have been forgiven for thinking the troubles were behind the mare - but not quite.
''After six months at the beach, she ate ragwort and lost all her hair with some reaction to ragwort.
''But the vet checked her liver and said `her liver function's perfect, get her back into training' and all her hair grew back.''
Fly Me To Da Moon spent some time with Yaldhurst trainer Ross Beckett, getting re-educated following the barrier accident, which led to Blair-Edie engaging Casey Lunn for the ride yesterday.
''Casey had worked with her when she worked for Ross Beckett, so she was the one apprentice I knew could handle her.
''I gave her the ride today and I said `I've given you the ride because you won't tense up at the barrier because you know the horse'.''
Fly Me To Da Moon's barrier manners are now first-class, Blair-Edie said.
''She goes in first now and waits.''
Fly Me To Da Moon is the first foal out of Fly The Coop. Blair-Edie has a 3yr-old St Reims filly named Come Fly With Me and a 2yr-old Raise The Flag filly named Fly The Flag at home waiting for their turn.
Drumregal capped off a good start to her career with a 3-length win over 1200m.
The Terry Kennedy-trained mare continues Kennedy's association with Otautau owner Craig Sim, who bred the mare.
Sim has several of his breed in work with Kennedy including Drumreims, who was scratched at Oamaru yesterday. The St Reims gelding will start over a mile at Timaru next Friday, Kennedy said.
