Second Australian G1 winner for Maurice
Superstar racehorse Maurice is now a leading sire in Japan, and Australia where he has left 18 stakes horses (9 of them 2YOs) from 133 runners. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Leading Second Season Sire Maurice has taken his status from “hot” to “sizzling” with his second Australian Group 1 winner, Triple Crown Syndications’ outstanding 3YO Mazu, winner of Saturday’s $1 million Doomben 10,000 1200m G1.
Held at Eagle Farm, the race was a searching test for the 3YO gelding, signed up this week by The Star & Arrowfield for two Everest campaigns after five straight wins including the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint G2 at Randwick.
Mazu’s chance of victory seemed forlorn on the home turn, as he laboured on the Heavy8 ground, and Generation & Paulele mounted challenges around him.
But like Maurice’s triple Classic winner Hitotsu, Mazu is made of stern stuff, and he forged clear of Paulele and the fast-finishing Entriviere to turn likely defeat into certain triumph.
MAZU GETS THE DOOMBEN 10,000 GLORY!@SnowdenRacing1 @TripleCrownSynd @BrisRacingClub pic.twitter.com/sbfEyUWmTU
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 14, 2022
Mazu has now won 7 of his 11 starts, including three Listed events, and $1.75 million for his large group of owners and trainers Peter & Paul Snowden. As Paul said after the race, “We’re super-proud of him and all the staff, bring on The Everest.”
Mazu is the second Group 1 winner out of Group-placed city winner Chatelaine (by Flying Spur) whose first foal Headway (by Charge Forward) won the 2009 Coolmore Stud S. G1 and was runner-up in Phelan Ready’s Golden Slipper.
Offered by his breeder & part-owner Parsons Creek Farm at the Inglis Classic Sale, Mazu was a $180,000 purchase by Triple Crown’s Chris & Michael Ward who have already enjoyed two-time Everest glory with Snowden Racing and Snitzel’s Champion son & leading earner Redzel.
Parsons Creek’s Marc de Stoop said of Mazu, “He was always something special in the paddock, we knew he was going to be something good, we put him through Inglis and the ride since then has been amazing.”
Maurice, also the sire of 3YO Group 1 sprinter Pixie Knight in Japan, leads the Australian Second Season Sires’ premiership with $6.9 million prizemoney, 32 winners, his two Group 1 winners and six other stakes performers.
