Adaline Turns The Tables On Katie Lee
- Friday, 01 January 2010 05:27
A pre-race plan to settle close to the pace helped Adaline turn the tables on Katie Lee in the Group Two Royal Stakes at Ellerslie on Friday.
Adaline pushed Katie Lee close in the Eight Carat Classic (1600m) last Saturday, after having to come from behind the dual Group One winner.
Trainer Stephen McKee said he and jockey Leith Innes decided it would be a good idea to settle closer in the Royal Stakes (2000m).
"Leith and I felt there wasn't going to be a lot of speed in the race, so we thought she should be in the first three or four," he said.
"As Katie Lee got back, it turned out to be a good place to be."
McKee said he was confident the Australian-bred filly would back up strongly from her Eight Carat second.
"We thought the extra distance would help us and she ran a great race," he said.
Adaline is owned by McKee's father Trevor, though ownership wasn't in the original plan.
"I bought a couple of horses at Karaka for a couple of owners, but they didn't front up with the money," Trevor McKee said.
"I was left with them and like I normally do, I held on to them."
Adaline and Katie Lee are likely to meet again in the Sir Tristram Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa next month.
Katie Lee was sent back to last and was perhaps disadvantaged by the slower pace but she fought strongly to the line.
The result narrows Katie Lee's lead in the Filly of the Year series by one point to 16.5 points. Adaline is now a clear second.
La Collina just edged Veronica Franco for third.
