Seven from Seven – Marabi Wins G1 Oakleigh Plate

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 26

For fans of undefeated I Am Invincible mare Marabi, the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday vindicated what all of us had been thinking for some time and that was that she was a serious Group I class sprinter.

Advertisement

Marabi wins her first G1 in the Oakleigh Plate - image Grant Courtney

Prepared by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, five year-old Marabi has been racing for just on a year, winning her debut on February 11 last year before a steady progression through the lower grades.

She won her first stakes race on Boxing Day, then the Group II MVRC Australia Stakes by nearly three lengths earning her favouritism for her first tilt at an elite sprint.

Marabi did not disappoint, she stalked the leader Malkovich under Ben Allen and dashed clear down the running before holding off a late charge from stablemate Away Game to win by half a length in a blistering 1:02.23, just half a second outside the track record.



“Greg Perry puts a lot into breeding and he's got a lot of mares and just loves his racing. He's very patient and very easy to train for so it's great to get rewarded with a horse like this,” said Ciaron Maher.

"And for Ben Allen, he had to really get down and get busy, get the weight off. For him to be rewarded with a Group 1 is super, he does a lot of work for the stable."

Marabi gets her first G1 rug!

Ben Allen has been on Marabi in six of her seven wins building a great association with the flying mare that has won over $900,000 in prizemoney..

“Greg Perry was very staunch, he's very loyal. Actually if it was even lighter he was going to let Ben ride it so congratulations to him,” Maher added.

"I suppose the pressure builds every start now but it's a good problem to have. She’s a fantastic mare and we'll just let the dust settle.

“This was the target and we'll go from there."

Winners are grinners! all images Grant Courtney

A homebred for Greg Perry that was foaled and raised at Vinery Stud, Marabi is a half-sister to Group I VRC Oaks winner Aristia from Group II winning Tiger Hill (IRE) mare Nakaaya, who died in 2020 and has only one other daughter, an unraced Flying Artie three year-old filly called Siteki that has also been retained by Mr Perry.

Marabi is the eleventh Group I winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible, who is sitting at the top of the Australian Generals Sires List by earnings and winners.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Oakleigh Plate Gr1 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:02.23
1
Marabi
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Nakaaya (AUS) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 54
I Am Invincible
2
0.5
Away Game
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Elusive Wonder (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L J Meech 52
3
2.0
Oxley Road
- 4h Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Mc Dougall 52.5
4
2.7
Malkovich
- 4h Choisir (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: C Newitt 52
5
3.5
Bella Nipotina
- 4m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
5
3.5
Poland
- 4g So You Think (NZ) x Sun Song (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Michael Poy 52
7
3.6
General Beau
- 3c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Phosphorescence (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 50
8
3.9
Ingratiating
- 3c Frosted (USA) x Obsequious (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 50
9
4.0
Wild Ruler
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher (CAN))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: M Zahra 58
10
4.2
Minhaaj
- 4m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Telaawa (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 52
11
4.4
Streetcar Stranger
- 5g Stratum (AUS) x Streetcar Isabelle (AUS) (Danerich (AUS))
Tnr: D R Jolly Rdr: P Gatt 52
12
4.6
Zoutori
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Atotori (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Damian Lane 58
13
5.3
Jonker
- 6h Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Hearts And Arrows (AUS) (Kempinsky (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J Byrne 57.5
More Reading...
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 7 – 9
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Written Tycoon Filly Bursts into NZ 1000 Guineas Contention
The Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) was expected to be the weekend’s key pointer for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but a spectacular performance on the Ellerslie undercard had its own impact on fixed-odds betting for the Christchurch classic.
Keeneland September Concludes with Record $531.5 Million in Sales
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale closed Saturday having achieved a defining industry milestone. Over 12 sessions, the sale rewrote records by selling 3,070 horses for a total of $531.5 million: the highest gross ever realized at a Thoroughbred auction worldwide. Historic highlights included 56 yearlings bringing seven figures, besting the previous record of 40 set in 2005 and led by a $3
French G3 Winner for Zoustar
The Group III Prix des Chenes (1600m) at Chantilly in France overnight produced a new stakes-winner for reigning champion Australian sire Zoustar with talented two year-old Oceans Four claiming his first Black Type win.
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 4-6
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Rising Japanese Staying Star Eri King
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart three year-old colt in Eri King, who won the Group II Kobe Shimbun Hai (2400m) at Hanshin on Sunday.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.