Tavistock Again as Flying Mascot Lands the Matron Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday March 12

Two races down at Flemington and two for the late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock as the admirably consistent mare Flying Mascot proves a class above in the Group III Penfolds Max's Rose Matron Stakes (1600m).

Flying Mascot in rare form (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Blaike McDougall for Tom Dabernig, Flying Mascot powered to a two-length victory over the Smart Missile mare Groovy Kinda Love with a further half-length back to the Pierro mare Rocha Clock in third.

With her third stakes success, Flying Mascot advances her record to six wins, three seconds, and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $527,525.

“She was impressive and a big thanks to Cameron Bennett from Flying Start Syndications. He puts absolutely no pressure on you and really supports every decision that we make with her,” Dabernig said.

“We’ve tried to just progress her gradually. She only had four runs in the spring. This was only her third run in the autumn. She keeps improving.

“I think she’s a very good miler and I think there’s still probably better to come. She can handle wet or dry ground.

“I’d like to thank all of my team. Darren Bell who’s my head man, he’s like the V8 Landcruiser of the operation and I’d be lost without him.

Advertisement

“The plan has always to go in 13 days to look at Moonee Valley. She won very well there. There’s the Group 2 Sunline Stakes for the mares.

“We’ll probably be a bit more ambitious in the spring if she spells well after this autumn.”

Flying Mascot (image Grant Courtney)

Purchased by Flying Start Syndications/Pinhook B/S (FBBA) for $25,000, from the draft of Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Flying Mascot is bred on the highly successful Tavistock – Zabeel cross.

A half-sister to stakes-winner Koala Bear (Exceed And Excel), Flying Mascot is one of seven winners from eight to race out of the Zabeel mare Lucky Mascot.

A sister to stakes-placed Maythehorsebemagic and to the dam of the champion and promising young stallion Xtravagant, Lucky Mascot is a daughter of the multiple Group II winner Arletty (Centaine), a three-quarter sister to Sixty Seconds and Spottswoode.

Lucky Mascot died in April last year. Her final foal is a 2yo brother to Flying Mascot named Lucky Stock, who is in the stable of John O’Shea and will carry the colours of his breeder Ron Finemore.

Advertisment

Race Result - Penfolds Max's Rose Matron Gr3 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:35.91
1
Flying Mascot
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Lucky Mascot (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57
2
2.0
Groovy Kinda Love
- 5m Smart Missile (AUS) x Epingle (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
Smart Missile
3
2.5
Rocha Clock
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Rocha (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J Bowman 57
Pierro
4
3.2
Bound To Win
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Lago Joy (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Oliver 55
5
3.7
Score
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Another Show (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Fred W Kersley 55
6
3.9
Turaath
- 5m Oasis Dream (GB) x Fadhayyil (IRE) (Tamayuz (GB))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: Damian Lane 58
7
7.4
Invinciano
- 6m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Equiano (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
More Reading...
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Tavistock Mare Blows Them Away in Tesio Stakes
It was a red-letter day for trainer Tom Dabernig with his first stakes-winner since going solo, Flying Mascot, who put a space on them in Saturday’s Group III Tesio Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Pelzter added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.