98th stakeswinner for Flying Spur
The Darren Weir-trained Mahuta has become the 98th stakeswinner for champion sire Flying Spur with a strong all-the-way win in Saturday’s $120,000 MRC Gothic S. 1400m LR.
The 3YO colt came into the race off a six-length maiden victory at Kyneton on 8 October and defied his double-figure odds by taking early control of the pace and kicking hard after the turn to hold off Holler, with Flying Light 3.5 lengths back in third.
Jockey Mark Zahra said, “He won well. He was a bit aggressive going to the gates so I wanted to have him where he was happy. He got to the front, relaxed and gave a good kick.”
A member of Flying Spur’s final crop, Mahuta was bred by John Johnstone and purchased for $35,000 from the Redbank North draft at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. He is a half-brother to stakeswinner Anlon, from the unraced Vahine (by Zabeel), a three-quarter sister to top-class 2YO filly Isolda who has left Group 3 winner Bid Spotter to Redoute’s Choice.
Flying Spur, now living out a well-earned retirement at Arrowfield, has enjoyed notable success with mares by sons of Sir Tristram. Mahuta is the 12th stakeswinner from 93 runners bred that way, a group that includes Sleek Chassis (Blue Diamond Stakes), dual Group 1-winning juvenile Juanmo, and Rosehill Guineas winner Dealer Principal.
Mahuta has bolstered Zabeel’s position on the Australian Broodmare Sires’ list, but not quite enough to overtake Flying Spur, represented as a damsire on Saturday by two stakeswinners, Dothraki at Randwick and Vezalay at Caulfield.
The champion son of Danehill remains Australia’s leading sire of broodmares this season with $3,190,484 prizemoney and six stakeswinners, just ahead of Zabeel with the same number of stakeswinners and earnings of $3,112,523.
