Mazu Unstoppable in Darby Munro

Mark Smith - Saturday March 19

Arrowfield Stud’s Japanese shuttler Maurice (Jpn) kick-started Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens with the first two winners.

As easy as it looks for Mazu (image Steve Hart)

After the Lee and Cherie Curtis-trained Achira flagged her ATC Oaks credentials with a fighting win in a 1500m Midway, the progressive Mazu confirmed his claim among the most progressive three-year-olds in training with a dominant performance in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m).

Ridden by Sam Clipperton for Peter and Paul Snowden, Mazu trailed the leader Omni Man and never left the fence in defeating the Exceed And Excel gelding Bacchanalia by two and a half lengths with the Snitzel filly Smirnova a length furthr back in third.

A last start winner of the Listed Fireball Stakes, Mazu is three for three since being gelded.

The winner of the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes last spring, the Triple Crown Syndications colour bearer advances his record to five wins and a third from nine starts with earnings of $461,350.

Paul Snowden revealed they had given some thought to staring the glorious-looking son of Maurice (JPN) in the Group 1 Galaxy.

“That was a solid effort, we were contemplating starting him in a harder race later in the day,” Snowden said.

Mazu a $180,000 Inglis Classic yearling

“We decided to stay in our lane and keep following the programme. This is just another run to tick him over for the Arrowfield.

“He has always had immense talent. but he was his own worse enemy. He was doing what colts that should not be colts were doing. ‘We did what we had to do with full support of the ownership group and they’re reaping the benefits of that now.

“I have no doubt he will reach top level with time. He will get 7f on his ear. He is relaxing so well now.”

A $180,000 purchase by Triple Crown Syndications out of the Parsons Creek Pastoral draft at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale, Mazu is a half-brother to Headway (Charge Forward) who was crowned the 2008-09 Champion 2yo Filly in Australia. Her four wins included the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and was runner-up in the Golden Slipper.

 Mazu is out of the multiple stakes-placed Flying Spur mare Chatelaine, who has a weanling colt by Toronado (IRE) and was covered by King’s Legacy last spring.

Maurice's grey daughter Achira grinds out a tough win in the opener (image Steve Hart)

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Irresistible Pools Darby Munro LR 1200m

Rosehill Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:13.20
1
Mazu
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Chatelaine (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 58.5
2
2.5
Bacchanalia
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Thalia (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 58
3
3.5
Smirnova
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Ballet Blue (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: W Pike 54
4
3.8
Shihonka
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x Stroak (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
5
5.1
Bend The Knee
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Kneeling (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Tommy Berry 58
6
5.2
Minsk Moment
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Dancing Express (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
7
9.2
Omni Man
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Courgette (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56
More Reading...
Maurice's Magnificent Mazu Claims the Arrowfield Sprint
Due to Sydney’s big wet, just four of the ten acceptors went to the post for Saturday’s $1,000,000 Group II Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick, but there is no denying they were a high-class lot.
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.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Red Letter Day for Maurice
While Hitotsu was grabbing the headlines in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington, the Japanese champion Maurice (GB) had another promising three-year-old salute when Mazu captured the Listed Tokyo City Keiba Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.
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.
Maurice Debutants Go One-Two at Canterbury
The bubble burst on the odds-on favourite Forbes as two first starters by the former Japanese Horse Of The Year Maurice (JPN) fought out the finish of the two-year-old maiden over 1100 metres at Canterbury on Friday night.
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.
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!
Mazu Turns Back the Clock
Mazu broke a nearly two-year drought by making light work of the heavy conditions in Saturday’s Group III TAB Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.