It proved to be an easy watch for supporters that backed Maurice’s Medad into odds-on favouritism in a 1400m maiden at Hawkesbury on Monday.
Rachel King controlled the tempo from the front on the Bjorn Baker-trained colt. The only 2yo in the 8-horse field, the son of Maurice (JPN), kept up a strong gallop in the straight to defeat the 3yo All Too Hard filly Toostar by one and a half lengths with the 3yo Lord Kanaloa gelding Kahuka a further to and a half lengths back in third.
Maurice’s Medad opened his winning account at his fifth start having been placed twice at his most recent starts at Randwick-Kensington and Wyong.
A $2
50,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Maurice’s Medad is the third winner from as many to race out of the Librettist (USA) mare Presslist.
Placed in all three career starts at Canterbury, Hawkesbury and Newcastle, Presslist is a half-sister to Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 BRC JJ Atkins Stakes winner Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) and the Group 1 BRC TJ Smith Classic winner Pressday (Domesday).
Presslist has a yearling colt by Maurice (JPN) and a weanling colt by All Too Hard and was covered by that Vinery Stud stallion again last spring.
Maurice’s Medad becomes the fourth winner in Australia for the former Japanese Horse of The Year Maurice (JPN), who shuttled to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons (2017-19).