It was an emphatic free-wheeling chasing display that the Karen Walsh prepared Thrilling Flo produced to demolish her rivals via her pace-making 43.20s victory in the $15,000 Theresa McDonald Memorial Cup over the extreme staying 747m distance.

The Gary Harding bred and owned daughter of Collision and Thrilling Angel stretched the field out by a considerable margin when racing down the back straight.

The local favourite Shandell gamely led the chasing pack for her conditioner Arch Lawrence. Kicking on just in behind her was Goldstar Jagger (Steve & Bonnie Evans) along with Tranquil Blossom (Angela Turnwald). Thrilling Flo was off and gone when lining up for the long grind home up the Cambridge straight.

Thrilling Flo was never going to be hauled back, although understandably she marginally started to shorten stride, she got home with 5.25 lengths to spare. Shandell was real gallant when she was required to fend off the serious late challenge thrown at her by a gallant Goldstar Jagger. She did so by the barest of possible margins.

The Group 2 race was completed in the worse of the weather conditions which forced the race presentation to be held later inside. “She is all heart who gives it everything she has. I was worried about how she would react to the rain when going out onto the track, but there certainly was no cause for concern. She can carry onto the Group race staying races coming up,” confirmed Karen Walsh about her charge who has now won 13 of her 27 career races. Her stake earnings are now at $35,705 after adding in another eight minor placings. Thrilling Flo is compiling a tidy staying record having won four of her five races (one second) over the longer journeys.
 

Thrilling Flo on the post race Theresa McDonald Memorial Cup podium during heavy rain; the race presentation was moved inside with Waikato committee member Jen Bartlett presenting the memorial cup to trainer Karen Walsh; Karen Walsh and handler Sophie Whittaker after the presentation