While Monday night was a triumph for the training and breeding of Liz and Rab McNair, it was particularly poignant for Liz.
The feature event was the BGBF British Breeders Stakes in which Queen Dolly had been dominant throughout. The blue didn’t let down her supporters when completing her unbeaten tag.
The brother and sister forecast was the second leg of a double that began with King Drake landing the second sprint competition of his career. The BGBF British Sprint winner from Towcester went to trap six as the 6-4f.
The significance of the night, particularly the victory of Dolly, will long be etched in the memory of her trainer.
Rab said: “Dolly was named after Liz’s sister Donna, whose funeral took place on Monday morning. In fact, our son brought Liz down to the track from Scotland.
“Donna was a huge Dolly Parton fan and even answered to ‘Dolly’ as much as her real name. Whenever there was a karaoke, Donna would always sing Dolly Parton songs. She had been ill with cancer for a while, and in our last conversations with her, she was keen to know how Dolly was getting on.
“The whole emotion of it all got to Liz on the night and she shed a good few tears, but I think it was just the kind of relief she needed after everything that had happened.”
Liz and Rab McNair after winning both feature finals at Nottingham: on left , Category One BGBF Breeders Stakes winner Queen Dolly, as Rab holds BGBF Midlands Sprint Trophy winner King Drake. Photo: © Steve Nash
