Makfi's Matchmaker Captures PJ Bell Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday April 10

Former kiwi Matchmaker opened her winning account for trainer Chris Waller when holding the challenge of the fast-finishing Marboosha in Saturday’s Group III China Horse Club PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Completing a momentous day for James McDonald, the 3yo daughter of Makfi (GB) defeated the Dream Ahead (USA) filly Marboosha by a half-head with the Medaglia D'Oro (USA) filly Geist a half-length back in third.

Previously trained in New Zealand by breeder/owners Gus and Bianca Wigley, Matchmaker was making her third start for Waller.

The daughter of Makfi (GB) won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton in October last year.

She’s from the south island in New Zealand, she did a good job over there winning her first start and running in some nice races, picking up some black type,” Waller said.

“Now to come to the big stage here at Royal Randwick and to win on Doncaster day, it’s pretty special.

“The confidence she’ll take out of it is good and naturally you’d expect her to get out over a little bit further as well. So I think she’ll be a nice four-year-old in the autumn.”

Matchmaker is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the Fastnet Rock mare Love Somebody who Inglewood Stud purchased for $28,000 out of the Rosemont Farm draft at the 2015 Inglis Great Southern Broodmare Sale.

Makfi

Placed four times from seven starts, Love Somebody is a half-sister to stakes=placed Excellent Dancer (Exceed And Excel) out of the Group II AJC Stan Fox Stakes winner Dynamic Love (Brave Warrior).

Love Somebody has a 2yo colt by Zacinto (GB), a yearling filly by Saville Row and a weanling colt by War Decree (USA).

 She was covered by War Decree (USA) again last spring.

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Race Result - China Horse Club P J Bell Stks Gr3 1200m

Randwick Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:11.17
1
Matchmaker
- 3f Makfi (GB) x Love Somebody (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
2
0.1
Marboosha
- 3f Dream Ahead (USA) x Boomex (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
3
0.6
Geist
- 3f Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Wraith (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 54
4
0.7
Never Talk
- 3f No Nay Never (USA) x Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 54
5
0.9
Stellar Pauline
- 3f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Negotiate (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: A Adkins 54
6
1.1
All Hallows' Eve
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Halloween (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
7
3.6
Macroura
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
8
3.7
Supreme Idea
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sweet Sister (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Tim Clark 55
9
6.0
Salateen
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Salma (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: R Dolan 54
10
6.2
Every Rose
- 3f Choisir (AUS) x Couredge (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 57
11
8.7
Najmah
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Najoom (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
12
16.4
Barossa Rosa
- 3f Adelaide (IRE) x Androssa (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: G Boss 54
13
16.5
Perfect Radiance
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Altair's Glow (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Craig Williams 54
14
18.3
Selburose
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Rose Pattern (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 54
15
18.7
Tudor Music
- 3f Your Song (AUS) x Tudor Magic (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: K S Latham 55
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