Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones' highly regarded filly Mookareena looked the consummate professional in winning the 2-year-old handicap over 1000 metres at Wagga Wagga on Easter Monday to credit her sire Shamus Award with his first winner.
In contrast to her barrier trial where she lobbed along at the tail of the field before rounding them up with a minimum of fuss, Mookareena was always in the leading division for Mathew Cahill before pulling clear at the 200 metres then holding off the fast-finishing Red Rock Stella (Redente) by a half-neck with All About Belle (Krupt) one and a quarter length back in third.
Bred by Riverdene Stud, Mookareena was consigned to the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Holbrook Stud.
She was knocked down to Joseph Jones Racing for $40,000.
The daughter of Shamus Award is the first live foal of Brisbane winning Flying Spur mare Puerto Vallarta who is a half-sister to 16-time winner Mukareena (Mukaddamah) who was runner-up in the Group III Black Opal Stakes.
Puerto Vallarta's 2016 Shamus Award foal died after birth but she foaled a Shooting To Win colt last year and was covered by the Caulfield Guineas winner again last spring.
Widden Stud's WS Cox Plate and Australian Guineas winner Shamus Award (pictured ) has only had a handful of starters to date.
The son of champion stallion Snitzel covered 157 mares last spring at a fee of $22,000.
