Choisir's Malkovich Goes Coast to Coast in Hawkesbury Rush

Mark Smith - Saturday April 22

The triumphant Quakka team of Josh Parr, Bjorn Baker and Darby Racing were back in the winner’s circle when teaming up to capture Saturday’s Listed Hawkesbury Rush (1100m) with the 5yo Choisir gelding  Malkovich.

No catching Malkovich (image Steve Hart)

Making his first appearance in twenty-two weeks and carrying equal topweight, Malkovich led at every call to defeat the 4yo Deep Field mare A Very Fine Red by a half-length with the 5yo Snitzel gelding Andermatt three-quarters of a length back in third.

Second in the race last year and the winner of the Listed VRC Bob Hoysted Stakes at Flemington twelve months ago, Malkovich advances his record to eight wins, eight seconds, and a third from 27 starts with earnings of $845,505.

Like the Quokka winner Overpass, Bjorn Baker said Malkovich benefited from being gelded.

Advertisement

“Another great ride by Josh Parr for the magic team, Baker enthused.

“The common denominator has been new geldings. It was not so much a temperament thing, he was getting too big and strong. He came back lighter and more athletic.

“It is hard to be confident coming to these races first-up. Josh just got beaten in this race last year on a heavy track and he deserved another stakes win.

“We will have a good think about where we go from here. He has longevity now so we can be patient. I will have a talk with the team at Darby and see where we go to. The dam of Malkovich had another stakes-winner a couple of weeks ago (Olentia in the Group III Carr Stakes), so she just keeps delivering.”

  Malkovich was an $85,000 pinhook by Woodpark Stud from the  Ascot Park draft at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He then made $240,000 to the bid of Darby Bloodstock at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale.

Malkovich is one of seven winners from as many to race for the Anabaa mare Mabkhara, who continues to hit the heights in the sales ring and on the track.  

An $85,000 Inglis Classic yearling Malkovich made $240,000 at the Inglis Ready 3 Run sale

Mabkhara is a breeder’s dream. She had ten consecutive foals highlighted by Malkovich, Group III winner and near $1,000,000 earner Wandabaa (Wandjina), and Group III winning Zoustar filly Olentia.

Her stakes-placed Sebring filly Seewhatshebrings made $450,000 at the 2021 National Broodmare Sale, and Wandabaa sold for $800,000 on Inglis Digital, having been purchased by Australian Bloodstock for $36,000 as a yearling.

Australian Bloodstock/Kris Lees Racing/Yes Bloodstock went to $575,000 for Mabkhara’s yearling filly by Deep Field consigned by Tyreel Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions and has been named Mary Ellen.

Darby Racing/Deburgh Equine shelled out $140,000 for Mabkhara’s Capitalist colt consigned by Attunga Stud to the 2023 Magic Millions.

Mabkhara earned a visit to I Am Invincible last spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush LR 1100m

Hawkesbury Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:02.23
1
Malkovich
- 5g Choisir (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 59
2
0.5
A Very Fine Red
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Italian Storm (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53
3
1.3
Andermatt
- 5g Snitzel (AUS) x Portillo (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
4
1.5
Fox Fighter
- 4g Foxwedge (AUS) x Stage Beauty (AUS) (Desert Prince (IRE))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Rachel King 53
5
1.8
Zethus
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Melpomene (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
6
1.9
Surreal Step
- 6g Sidestep (AUS) x Continua (AUS) (Wonderful World (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53.5
7
2.3
Athelric
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Ida (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 59
8
2.5
Titanium Power
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Dalkeith (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Prebble 57
9
2.6
Juan Diva
- 6m Snitzel (AUS) x Peron (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
10
5.5
Night Of Romance
- 5m Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Shohrah (IRE) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 55
11
8.2
Zorocat
- 5m Toronado (IRE) x She's Purring (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: D Lane Rdr: Zac Lloyd 53
More Reading...
Yulong Purchase into Enriched - Inglis October (Early) Sale
Three individual shares in the G2-winning entire Enriched sold for a combined $440,000 in a highly successful Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale today.
Les Young Scholarship sets Miriam on track for industry leadership
Miriam Drinnan’s vision for a big, bold career in the Thoroughbred industry has just been turbo-charged thanks to the Les Young Scholarship, an award supported by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program.
Metro Winner Adds to Yes Yes Yes Spring Surge
October is shaping as a great month for Gooree Stud’s new addition Yes Yes Yes with the 2019 Everest hero reeling off four winners in the past week including Maybe Moet, who saluted at Randwick on Wednesday.
First Magic 2YO Winner for Te Akau
David Ellis and Te Akau Racing spent over $5million on 17 yearlings at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale earlier this year and they unleashed their first winner from the group at Avondale on Wednesday. 
G1 King Charles Next for Pier
Kiwi Group One winner Pier will not feature in this year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), but he will still have the opportunity to run for a A$5 million stake back in Sydney.
Malkovich Second Stakes Winner in as Many Days for Anabaa Mare Mabkhara
This is a pedigree update that breeder’s dream of.
All the Way Anders Winner for Myracehorse
The Myracehorse colours struck again at Doomben on Wednesday carried by progressive Anders filly Diversity, who broke her maiden in good style.
Wootton Bassett 3YO Impresses at Avondale
Promising three-year-old Kygo Star overcame a wide journey to come out on top in a tight finish in the Allspark Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m) at Avondale on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 8
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Written Tycoon’s Pictor Leads Home Waller Trifecta
Having made his debut back in June with a narrow second behind fellow Yulong owned Written Tycoon colt Grand Prairie, who three starts later won the Group 3 ATC Up And Coming Stakes, Chris Waller’s progressive Pictor appreciated the step to 1400m to score at just his third career start.