Exciting young sire Maurice (Jpn) has had plenty of stakes placed horses this season outside of his Group I superstars Hitotsu and Mazu and one of them is a maiden no more.
A modest 1200m maiden race at Murtoa was chosen as the starting point for newly gelded three year-old Port Louis by the Maher Eustace stable and he obliged with an easy win.
Stakes-placed twice previously and placed six times as well as being competitive in Group I races, Port Louis had been the source of some frustration, but as with Mazu, gelding may have proven the master stroke.
He's a man on a mission - Port Louis wins at Murtoa - image Brendan McCarthy / Racing Photos
Port Louis cruised home to win by two and a half lengths and will no doubt take confidence from the win.
Withdrawn from Inglis Easter, Port Louis runs for Katsumi Yoshida and has won over $200,000 in prizemoney even though this was his first win in 11 starts!
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Cloros Bloodstock, Port Louis is a half-brother to Group II placed Raphael’s Cat and Tale of Choice being the sixth winner from imported US Group II winner Cat By the Tale (USA).
Cat by the Tale has been a regular partner for The Autumn Sun in the last three seasons producing a yearling filly, a weanling colt and she is back in foal to him again.
Port Louis is the 39th Australian winner this season for Maurice, who will be the Champion Australian second Crop Sire by earnings and returns to Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $88,000.
