Is Maurice a Sire of Stayers?

Tara Madgwick - Thursday October 28

With three runners in the Victoria Derby, Arrowfield Stud’s leading second crop sire Maurice (Jpn) is looking down the barrel of a big pay day if his offspring can figure in the placings of this $2million feature, but are they stayers? This is what we’re about to find out.

When Arrowfield Stud added the so called ‘Beast from the East’ to their roster in 2017, Maurice arrived with much fanfare and is certainly an impressive individual, albeit very unlike the short coupled sprinters largely favoured by Australian breeders.

Maurice stands at Arrowfield Stud.

This horse has size, plenty of scope and a real presence and quality about him with the term ‘stands over ground’ applying to him.

Maurice is a spectacular looking thoroughbred that proved his worth as a racehorse and was crowned Japanese Horse of the Year in 2015 as well as taking the title of Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler with his 11 wins from 18 starts coming from 1400 to 2000m with 1600m seen as his optimum trip.

 

He is currently the equal leading second crop sire in Australia by winners (13) with Mazu winning the Listed ATC Sir Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) last Saturday to become his first Australian stakes-winner.

 

 

Mazu is the  first Aussie SW for Maurice - image Steve Hart

 

 

In Japan, Maurice is the leading second crop sire by earnings with 82 winners including three stakes-winners headed by his Group I winner Pixie Knight, whose highlight win came in the Nakayama Sprinters Stakes (1200m) where he clocked 1:07.1.


Advertisement
His other two Japanese stakes-winners Shigeru Pink Ruby and Rook’s Nest won their Black Type races over 1400m and 1600m, so there is no doubting the Maurice stock have the speed of their sire, but do they have stamina?

A look into the pedigree of Maurice gives some indication that his stock may well get a trip as his sire Screen Hero won up to 2600m with his best win in the Group I Japan Cup (2400m), while his dam Mejiro Frances is an unplaced daughter of Arc winning sire Carnegie, who achieved considerable success in Australia.

Carnegie sired Victoria Derby winner Amalfi, Rosehill Guineas winner Carnegie Express, Doomben Cup winner Perlin and the best of them all was the mighty Tuesday Joy, who won four G1 races highlighted by the ATC BMW (2400m).

The grand-dam of Maurice is Mejiro Monterey, who was a stakes-winner up to 2500m and her grand-mother Mejiro Bosatsu was also a stakes-winner up to 2400m, so his whole pedigree has more than enough stamina on paper to suggest he could get a Classic horse.

As an outcross sire, Maurice is one of  those intriguing horses that will take a while for trainers and breeders to work out completely, but on what we’ve seen so far you’d hold high hopes for the future.

Click here for the Breednet Derby Pedigree Preview which features Maurice runners Akihiro, Hitotsu and Clyde.

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.