The Chris Bothwell-trained Arjaybee (NZ) (Highly Recommended) made a winning debut at Otaki on Thursday, coming from last under apprentice Taiki Yanagida to blouse her rivals late in the Aquashield Roofing 3YO Maiden (1200m).
The victory was an emotional one for Stratford-based Bothwell, with the daughter of Highly Recommended named after his late father and former training partner Dick (Richard John Bothwell).
With no exposed form to go off, punters neglected the $23 chance who finished best of all.
A $22,000 purchase at Karaka Book 3 from the Long Acres Stud draft, Arjaybee is out of the winning King’s Chapel mare Sandra.
“Not long before Dad passed away he came down to the stables when four horses came back from the sales and this is the girl that he really liked,” Chris Bothwell said.
“The owners were very kind and named her after Dad.
“She hasn’t done much wrong. She has shown an awful lot the whole way through.”
