Chica's Providing Drynan Timeless Moments

In the lead up to Saturday night's Group 3 Magic Maiden Final we chat to an extremely proud Kerry Drynan about the outstanding deeds of Chica Destacada.

Time and time again, we've seen stars of the track retire to the breeding barn with much fanfare, only to fail to live up to the expectations that their extravagant racing careers and impeccable breeding lines demand.

So one can forgive Kerry and Doreen Drynan for being lost for words when it comes to their pride and joy Chica Destacada, the group 1 winner's litter to Barcia Bale responsible for six of the eight Group 3 Magic Maiden finalists at Wentworth Park this Saturday night.

"Words just can't properly describe how proud mum and I are of her, they really can't," said Kerry on Monday.

"She gave us so much on the track for such a long time and now to see her pups racing so successfully really makes us so proud. For the six pups to be racing each other on Saturday night will be special and something we're looking forward to."

While six of Chica Destacada's 21-month old pups to Barcia Bale will take their place in the Magic Maiden, the group 1 National Sprint winner will also be well represented in the Association Cup Final, with Poco Dorado, Blue Moon Rising and Veloce Nero, from her first litter to Fernando Bale, qualifying for yet another feature race final at Wentworth Park for John and Minnie Finn.

For Drynan, the Llandilo conditioner will line-up fastest semi-final winner Timeless Moment in the Magic Maiden Final, looking to go one better in the Easter Saturday feature, following the previous runner-up performances by Kay Dee Em (2016) and Fortunes Of Time (2017) in the group 3 event.

"Yes, we've finished second a couple of times now so it would be nice to win one for a change," added Drynan.

"I thought her heat run was very good finishing third, it was her first time in a full field and I think it was just a bit of experience that cost her in the end.

"I'm glad she's boxed out wide in the final – it's definitely where she wants to be. I'm just hoping she can get across into a spot because there won't be any room for error. I think there's a couple in her litter that are probably a bit faster than her but if she gets left alone early and gets the right run I expect her to run a good race. She should only be better for last week."

In a set of statistics that read nothing short of remarkable, Chica Destacada's progeny have faced the starter on 280 occasions for 91 wins and a further 109 placings, an outrageous winning strike-rate of 32.5%.

Their prizemoney earnings have reached $840,000 and with a successful night Saturday, will be rapidly approaching the $1 million mark.

"You do see a lot of the time that top race bitches don't go on like you'd hope when they begin breeding but she's just completely exceeded everything you could hope for," added Kerry.

"When her first litter to Fernando Bale were ready to go we didn't manage to race one with the proposed (industry) ban but thankfully this time we were able to come to an arrangement with her owners and get the two – the other bitch is probably a length behind this one, but we've had some problems with her."

A few weeks shy of her seventh birthday, a milestone that arises on May 3, Drynan says that Chica Destacada is in great health at her Llandilo property.

"Yes, she's great," added Drynan.

"I had to nurse her third litter to Fernando Bale from when they were 10 days old as she had awful mastitis but she's fit and healthy now. It was pretty rough at the time I can tell you, an awful thing."

A 30.14 semi-final winner, Timeless Moment heads into Saturday's $25,000 to-the-winner finale as the fastest qualifier, ahead of His Ticking for trainer Mark Suttle, an impressive 30.21 qualifier.

Flash Mulcher landed his semi-final in 30.29 for Shayne Fleming, while Really Unreal, a sister to Timeless Moment, recorded 30.34.

Picture Perfect: Family time, Chica Destacada with her unraced daughter, the aptly named Steal The Glory, something her mother is doing in spades!

Timeless Moment taking out her semi-final in 30.14

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