McIlveen's Faith Repaid With Oaks Triumph

PAUL McIlveen, continuing to find Bundaberg a happy hunting ground, landed Princess Penny an all-the-way winner of Monday's Bundaberg Oaks (531m).

But, Paul is the first to admit he had just about given up on Princess Penny (My Redeemer-Call Me Roxanne) some months ago.

“She was showing huge potential and put together four or five wins on the trot,” said McIlveen.

“But, she came on season and when I brought her back to racing she went right off.

“I was despairing and it took ages for her to come right.”

But “come right” she has and she led throughout to down Tarawi Lola by four lengths in a quick 30.02 with Miss Slimm in third two lengths away.

McIlveen bred the Oaks winner from his former smart race bitch Call Me Roxanne a member of Frank and Edith Hancock's famed Hannalore damline.

“The mother was a beautiful 32 kilo bitch,” said Paul.

Princess Penny has started 37 times for 10 wins and 14 placings and earnings of $36,000.

McIlveen has no specific plans for his bitch.

“It was a very good win today and the time was much faster than the Derby winner ran,” he said.

That Derby winner is Kasey's Money which led throughout to hold off kennelmate Rebel Blaster in 30.70 scoring narrowly as the rank outsider of the final at $71.

“I thought the runner-up was the one to beat,” said trainer Peter O'Reilly of the Derby result.

O'Reilly also prepares Oaks runner-up Tarawi Lola.

He prepares Kasey's Money, the winner of nine of his 93 starts for $48,000, for a syndicate in Ipswich.

The dog had been a Ipswich Derby finalist last year.

“He likes the Bundy track.” said O'Reilly of the winner.

“He's only average but he continues to pay his way.”

By Raw Ability-Deb's Penny, Kasey's Money is from the famed Stresa damline.

He had been second in a top grade three runs back at Bundaberg.