Punters gave the bookies a shellacking on Derby Day at Flemington, and they reserved plenty to plonk on James McDonald on the John O’Shea-trained Minhaaj in the day’s finale, the Group III Furphy Sprint (1100m).
McDonald plotted a course closest to the fence on the daughter of Exceed And Excel to defeat Hitotsu’s close relation Missile Lover (Smart Missile) by one and a quarter lengths with MIleva (Headwater) a further three-quarter of a length back in third.
Minhaaj has now won her two starts for Rosemont Stud, justifying the decision to keep her in training after purchasing her for $1,800,000 at the 2021 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
Coming off a win in the Group III ATC Nivison Stakes, Minhaaj advances her record to five wins and two thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $454,650.
McDonald noted the similarity of the win to that of the Nivison.
“Same set up, same scenario, on the fence, and it worked out pretty well,” he said.
“The track has played beautifully all day. it gave us the opportunity to dart up there and hit the line.
“She’s a good mare and is in for a good prep.
It’s really special to be here and be competing against the calibre of jockeys that are in that room, and hopefully, it continues.”
The winner of the Group III TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington when carrying the colours of her breeder, Shadwell Stud, Minhaaj is out of the Lonhro mare Telaawa.
Purchased by Shadwell for $180,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Telaawa made $1.7 million to Go Bloodstock/Coolmore Stud at the Shadwell Dispersal. She foaled a full-sister to Minhaaj on September 4.
Telaawa’s dam, the stakes-placed Danehill Dancer mare Magic Harmony, left the talented Charmed Harmony (Hussonet), whose 13 wins included the Group III MRC Sandown Stakes and the South African Group III winner Suyoof (Magic Albert).
Magic Harmony is a half-sister to Group III winner Life’s A Bounty (Bahamian Bounty) and the multiple Listed winner Miss Prospect (Rory’s Jester), the dam of Exceed And Excel’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort and the millionaire Consular (Royal Academy).
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock purchased a sister to Minhaaj for $900,000, on behalf of Jonothan Munz, at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Named Movie Matinee, she is in training with Anthony and Sam Freedman..
Exceed AndExcel is covering his 18th book of mares at Darley Stud (NSW) this spring at a fee of $132,000.
