Giant's Causeway filly Barbadine secured the third win of her career in the Rating 85 Mills Reef Winery Handicap (2300m) at Otaki after going into the race as the favourite on Saturday.

After running a close second last start at Waikato over 2400m the same combination of jockey James McDonald and Barbadine (Giant’s Causeway x Damson) ensured they secured victory this time.

Jumping from barrier seven and settling near the front of the field McDonald had her travelling nicely on the turn for home, race leader Jumoke drew three lengths away however McDonald pulled Barbadine wide and, when asked in the straight, the filly ran on strongly to win by a short neck.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie this was Barbadine’s first win in New Zealand with her previous two victories coming in Ireland in 2010.

Barbadine’s dam, Damson (Entrepreneur) was the second top filly on the 2004 European Two-Year-Old Classification with four wins including the Group 1 Curragh Phoenix Stakes and the Group 2 Royal Ascot Queen Mary Stakes. She is also a half sister to Geminiani (Kings of Kings) who won the Group 3 Goodwood Prestige Stakes.