Half to Madam Pommery Breaks Maiden

Breednet - Thursday January 18

Buoyed by a satisfying midweek success, Stephen Marsh will be hoping to add to his tally on Saturday with a four-strong team engaged at Trentham, including a pair of strong Group One chances.

The Cambridge trainer was delighted to see his well-related Pierro filly Moet Down open her winning account at Te Rapa on Wednesday at her fourth appearance.

Moet Down

She is the first horse raced by the all-female Heels & Hooves Syndicate, who are supporting a worthy cause with the filly.

“They are donating a percentage of their prizemoney to the Breast Cancer Foundation,” Marsh said.

He purchased Moet Down for A$200,000 at the Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by Coolmore.

“Since we bought her, the half-sister (Madame Pommery) won the Thousand Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) in Melbourne and it’s a family that’s booming,” Marsh said.

Advertisement

She is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Cancel, who is a sister to the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner Earthquake.

Marsh will be banking on Moet Down’s victory to be a forerunner to further success at Trentham where he will have stable newcomer Skyman and El Vencedor in the Gr.1 Harcourts Team Group Thorndon Mile (1600m).

Skyman is owned by Go Racing and won nine races, including four at Listed level, from Chris Waller’s Sydney operation. He hasn’t raced since December, but is forward to resume.

“He’s in good order, his trial was great and he had an exhibition gallop at Matamata. He’s going really well,” Marsh said.

Skyman will be ridden by expatriate Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse, who was booked following a surprise call.

“We got a message from Mason Stevens, who used to work in New Zealand, saying would you put Daniel on and I said yes, without a doubt. He’s a very good rider,” Marsh said.

“It’s hard to split Skyman and El Vencedor, who has drawn nicely and will jump and put himself right there.”

El Vencedor won the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) two runs back and the Shocking gelding followed up with a solid third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and will again be ridden by Joe Doyle.

Marsh’s other Trentham runners are Doddle in The Oaks Stud Remutaka Classic (2100m) and Sako in the Rydges Wellington Airport Premier (1200m) with Sam Weatherley to partner the pair.

Doddle returned to her best form at her most recent appearance when the Dundeel mare successfully stepped up to Saturday’s distance at Tauranga earlier this month.

“She’s going very well and it’s going to be a great race with $350,000 up. She has certainly done nothing wrong,” Marsh said.

A son of Ardrossan, Sako finished a close second at Te Rapa last month in his first appearance for three months.

“He was good last start and has an average gate (10), but he does have early speed and looks a nice chance,” Marsh said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

 

 

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
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.
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.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
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.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
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.
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.
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.
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.