Japan’s Horse of the Year and now Group 1 sire Maurice has returned to Arrowfield for his fourth Australian season. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Three new winners for Maurice in Japan

International champion and shuttle stallion Maurice stoked up his first season record in Japan with a trio of debut-winning 2YO daughters over the weekend at Niigata and Sapporo.

First up was U Carrot Farm’s Stutti who sustained a big finishing effort to hold out her rivals over 1600 metres at Niigata.

Stutti was bred by Northern Farm and is the first foal out of Group 3 winner Lilavati, by Sunday Silence’s son Zenno Rob Roy.

Forty-five minutes later, warm favourite T O Mary scooted to a comfortable two-length victory over 1200 metres at Sapporo for her owner Tomoya Ozasa.

 T O Mary is a half-sister to multiple US Graded Stakes winner Alsvid, and Japanese Listed winner T O Helios, out of Reagle Mary by Afternoon Deelites.  

Jury out and could be for several years but champ MAURICE struck back today with winners of both Turf 2yo Newcomer (debut) races today

2f 9. STUTTI (Maurice x Lilavati ) 1600m at Niigata

then

2f 6. T O MARY (Maurice x Reagle Mary 🇺🇸) 1200m at Sapporopic.twitter.com/HZSdwOxhaa

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) August 8, 2020

The double became a treble on Sunday when Infinite justified her favouritism for a second 1600-metre Newcomer event at Niigata with an ears-pricked, two-length win.

Owned by Sunday Racing, Infinite is another Northern Farm graduate, out of the Agnes Digital mare Morganite, the dam of four other winners including Group 3 winner Black Spinel. 

He’s on fire! Arrowfield shuttle stallion Maurice sires a third impressive 2YO winner on debut this weekend with Infinite (ex Morganite) taking out the 1600m 2YO Newcomers at Niigita.
Watch the replay here👇@TDNAusNZ @anz_news @rs_bloodstock @breednet
pic.twitter.com/iKXmbvqz8J

— Arrowfield Stud (@ArrowfieldStud) August 9, 2020

Maurice is now second to Duramente (by King Kamehameha) on Japan’s 2020 First Season Sires’ list with ¥60.4 million and four winners including  the colt Kaiser Nova, who won first-up at Hakodate on 11 July. 

Australasian buyers paid an average price of $115,941 for 43 Maurice yearlings sold this year, with a top price of $300,000 achieved for the Eagle Magic colt, who will race for Tora Racing as Matsukaze. He was bought by Hawkes Racing from the Arrowfield consignment at Magic Millions in January.

Five other yearlings by the six-time Group 1 winner made more than $200,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier, Inglis Classic & Magic Millions Sales. 

Other trainers with just-turned Maurice 2YOs include Peter & Paul Snowden, Chris Waller, Bjorn Baker, Gary Portelli, Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Stuart Kendrick, Paul Perry and Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes.

Maurice shuttled to Arrowfield for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons, but along with Mikki Isle, Real Impact & Real Steel, he remains in Japan this year as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.