International superstar Maurice is now a red-hot young sire in Japan and has posted his first 2YO winner in Australia. He has 14 yearlings at Inglis Classic 2021, 9 of them in Arrowfield’s consignment. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

We love Maurice!

He’s Japan’s 2015 Horse of the Year, a sensational six-time Group 1 winner and, in the flesh, he’s awe-inspiring.

Now Maurice is  Japan’s current leading First Season Sire and the sire of this season’s first 2YO trial winner in Sydney, the filly I Love Lucy.

TRIAL WATCH: First of the 2YO trials in Sydney taken out by @ArrowfieldStud bred Maurice filly #ILOVELUCY

pic.twitter.com/NLFrkeOkjX

— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) September 8, 2020

Bred by Arrowfield from the Flying Spur mare Lustrous, I Love Lucy was bought for $150,000 from Magic Millions by trainer Lee Curtis and is raced by a group including Francis & Christine Cook and Arrowfield, which retained a share.

All going well, she will head to the $160,000 Gimcrack S. 1000m G3 at Randwick on 3 October. 

I Love Lucy’s win wasn’t the only encouraging effort by a Maurice 2YO. Runner-up in the second 2YO trial was Maurice’s Medad (ex Presslist by Librettist), a $250,000 Magic Millions buy from Vinery Stud for Bjorn Baker & Clarke Bloodstock.

In Japan, Maurice added his ninth winner and a new placegetter when the Northern Farm-bred colts Legatus & Consolation ran 1-2 in a maiden race over 1600 metres at Niigata on Sunday.

Like Arrowfield’s other Japanese shuttle stallions Real Impact, Mikki Isle & Real Steel, Maurice has remained at home after serving his fourth book of mares at Shadai Stallion Station where he stands at a fee of ¥4 million (~$50,000). 

Maurice’s second crop of Australian yearlings will be offered for sale in 2021.