Avondale owner-trainer Leanne Franklin reached a career-high on Auckland Cup day when Beautiful Girl won the G3 Darley Plate at Ellerslie.

Beautiful Girl (6m Black Minnaloushe – Piccadilly Lily by Rubiton) did best in a hard-fought battle with G1 Telegraph Handicap winner Vonusti to prevail by a short-head.  Franklin deserves all the credit for the mare’s record this season which comprises five wins from eight starts.

Beautiful Girl was sidelined for almost two years with a tendon injury before Franklin was able to nurse her back to full health.  The mare was a $13,000 buy as a yearling from Haunui Farm at the 2005 NZ Bloodstock Sale and has now earned $155,000

Beautiful Girl is by Storm Cat sire Black Minnaloushe and her second dam is G1 Queensland Oaks winner Round the World (Red Anchor).

Her sire Black Minnaloushe shuttled from Ashford Stud to Windsor Park until 2006.  South African studmaster Graham Beck made Coolmore a much better offer and his first yearlings from Main Chance Farms are catalogued for the Emperors Palace Sale in Johannesburg next month.

Among the entrants is a Black Minnaloushe filly (Lot 464) from Australian bred mare Rose Gypsy (Rory’s Jester).  She won 4 races and was G2 placed in the Odessa Stud Championship.  Second dam Chamoix (Zabeel) was a Listed winner of the Morphettville Guineas.