This is a pedigree update that breeder’s dream of.
Before Friday the Anabaa mare Mabkhara had not had a stakes-winner in her five foals to reach the track – now she has two. At Newcastle on Friday, Australian Bloodstock’s Wandjina mare Wandabaa opened her stakes account in the Group III Newcastle Newmarket Hcp.
A day later Wandabaa’s half-brother Malkovich opened his stakes account with the narrowest of wins in the in the Listed Ata/Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
Down the centre of the track Malkovich defies the chasing pack (image Grant Courtney)
The 4yo son of Choisir came down the middle of the track to hold the onrushing Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) by a nose with Express Pass (Wandjina) a further short-neck back in third.
Like his Inglis Sprint winning stablemate Overpass, Malkovich has been racing in rare form and few would deny him his maiden stakes success.
Job well done (image Grant Courtney)
The Bjorn Baker-trained entire seems to enjoy Melbourne. His three previous stakes placings all came down south, including a second behind Oxley Road in the Group II Caulfield Sprint. His overall record stands at seven wins, six seconds, and a third from 19 starts with earnings of $679,230.
“It was a very encouraging effort in the Oakleigh Plate last week, and it set him up nicely to come back to the 1000 metres,” Parr said.
I do like that set-up, personally, because it means they can roll along very strong with a nice tempo and you can count on them being there in the end.”
Malkovich was an $85,000 pinhook by Woodpark Stud from the Ascot Park draft at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He then made $240,000 to the bid of Darby Bloodstock at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale.
Malkovich an $85,000 Inglis Classic yearling
Mabkhara had ten foals in succession. Australian Bloodstock/Kris Lees Racing/Yes Bloodstock went to $575,000 for Mabkhara’s yearling filly by Deep Field at the Magic Millions in January.
After foaling a Capitalist filly last spring, Mabkhara was covered by Cosmic Force.
Malkovich becomes the 104th stakes-winner for Coolmore Stud’s trail blazing Choisir.
Pensioned after the 2019 stud season, the Group 1 winning son of Danehill Dancer died in December last year.
