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.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt Mazu kick-started his career on the right note when leading at every call under Tommy Berry.
The Kim Waugh-trained debutant Conrad tracked the winner and closed within a half-neck on the line with the Sebring filly Jal Lei one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Paul Snowden said he did not know how much the son of Maurice (JPN) had left in him this preparation.
“He’s come a long way. It’s a hard thing to do to perform at your first start,” Paul Snowden said.
“He does things wrong, but what he did tonight was quite good, and we are looking forward to the future.
“He showed good speed in his trials. Tommy took advantage of that. He gave a good kick and found the line well.
“Mentally. I don’t know how far he will go (this preparation). We have a fair opinion of him, but it is just that mental aspect.
“We will look after him and won’t push him to get to the (Golden) Slipper or something like that. We will give him a few days to get over this then reassess.
“The owners can be rapped with that. They have a handy horse
(Triple Crown) have dabbled with this stallion (Maurice). We had a runner for them last Wednesday week and he didn’t disappoint. They have a good eye and I hope they can pick a couple more.
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-sister Headway. The daughter of charge Forward 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 becomes the fourth winner from eight to race out of the multiple stakes-placed Flying Spur mare Chatelaine.
Michael and Chris Ward of Triple Crown Syndications seem less reluctant than most in buying yearlings from mares with a bit of age on them.
It has served them well with the likes of $16.4 million earner Redzel leading the charge.
Mazu becomes the second first crop winner for Maurice (JPN). As Breednet recently mentioned, we are very bullish on this stallion who shuttled to Arrowfield for three seasons.
