Flying Ellie (NZ) Franks Form with Powerful Oaks Victory

Families combined as Flying Ellie (NZ) (Art Major) ran to a powerful victory in the $56,000 Group Two Macca Lodge Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks (2700m) on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park.

The NZB Standardbred ran up to the form from her excellent second in the Group One Northern Oaks (2700m) to win the feature event for trainer Nathan Williamson and driver Matthew Williamson.

Flying Ellie is raced by Mark and Melanie Kingsbury who secured the filly for $50,000 from the Tardina Stud draft at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Matthew Williamson was thrilled to be able to deliver a Group race victory in his brother’s colours.

The reinsman made the most of his opportunity behind Flying Ellie, who won the Group Three Group Three Caduceus Club of Southland & Alabar Fillies Classic on the same track as a two-year-old.

“It is super, obviously everyone knows what a great job Nathan is doing as a trainer,” Matthew said.

“I am just lucky enough that he is such a good trainer that he has got more than one good horse in a race like this.”

“To pick up the drive on a beautifully mannered filly – she couldn’t be nicer to drive.”
“It is great to get the win for him.”

Williamson had a plan to follow runners-up and leaders Aardie B Miki (NZ) (Always B Miki) and driver Tim Williams and it proved to be the perfect place to be in Sunday’s feature.

“Tim was the one I was hoping to follow, I was thinking he would be the one that wouldn’t hand up to anything else,” Williamson said.

“As it turned out he did try to hand up, but luckily for us Ruby Roe wouldn’t go on to the lead.”

“If anything it took us the straight to wear the leader down, it kicked pretty well at the top.”

“But then halfway down my filly really started to get into her work and she was strong to the line.”

Aardie B Miki led throughout and fought on gamely before being collared late by Flying Ellie.

Aardie B Miki’s dam Tatijana Bromac was purchased by owner Mike Tanev on standardbred.gavelhouse.com when the mare was in foal with the filly.