Kiwi Group I Winner for Holy Roman Emperor

Talented filly Rollout the Carpet (3f Holy Roman Emperor x Out of Egypt, by Red Ransom) beat a crack field of 18 runners to capture the Group I New Zealand 1,000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Jeff McVean trained filly was a Group II winner last season at two and has returned in top shape, scoring a thrilling nose win in this 1600 metre contest.

Rollout The Carpet lost the Group I Diamond Stakes as a two year-old on protest earlier in the year and connections would have been praying for her to keep the race this time after she scored a last stride win and was again protested against.

This time stewards left her with the race, her overall record now three wins and four seconds from nine starts with prizemoney of $321,725.

"She jumped out of the gates and fell flat on her face, but she picked herself up straight away," said winning rider Mark Du Plessis.

"Every time I've ridden her she's learned how to race and relaxed every time and she gave a really good kick."

Passed in shy of her reserve at the 2011 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Rollout the Carpet was retained to race and is best of four winners from Out of Egypt (USA), a sister to US Grade II winner Wandering Star.

Out of Egypt has been a regular visitor to Coolmore sires and has a two year-old filly by Tale of the Cat and a yearling filly by Henrythenavigator .

Rollout the Carpet is the third Group I winner worldwide for Holy Roman Emperor joining Homecoming Queen and Morandi.