Merchant Navy Filly a History Maker

Media Release - Sunday January 14

The highly-anticipated reopening of Ellerslie was celebrated in style on Sunday, with Merchant Queen writing her name into the history books as the first to salute in a new era for the iconic venue.

Merchant Queen winning the opening event on the new Ellerslie StrathAyr surface on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Ellerslie, home to several of New Zealand’s most esteemed race-days, underwent a major reconstruction to install the new StrathAyr surface over the past 22 months, and the inaugural meeting commenced with a competitive Barfoot & Thompson Ellerslie Is Back 1200.

The potent combination of Stephen Marsh and Sam Spratt were fresh from a thriller in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) with Mercurial on Saturday, and joined forces with Merchant Queen, who was aiming to maintain her unbeaten status.

A daughter of Merchant Navy, the filly entered the winner’s circle on debut in August, and went two-from-two when resuming at Arawa Park last month ahead of subsequent next-start winner Aequus. She started a $4.40 TAB tote third-fancy in the compact three-year-old contest, with Egyptian Queen heading the market at $3.30.

Spratt hustled the filly out of barrier five with designs on the lead, though shared pace-making duties with Bevanda down the back straight. Entering the home turn, Merchant Queen left her rivals chasing in the straight, and despite the best efforts of a game Ethereal Star and emerging talent My Annie Belle, the filly charged to victory by 1& ½ lengths.

Dylan Johnson represented the Marsh contingent at Ellerslie, and was delighted to see the filly handle the step-up into open three-year-old company.

“It’s fantastic, she’s a filly that’s just worked her way through the grades and it’s not easy to go three on the bounce,” he said.

“We thought the draw may have been a bit sticky, but Sam is riding in great form, obviously yesterday as  Group One winner and again today. She’s probably riding as well as she ever has.

Advertisement

“Today was a real find-out day, to see if she’s been in the right sort of class those first two runs but she’s beaten a good field today. She had to do a bit of work, so from here we’ll get her home but perhaps a race like the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night might hold some appeal.”

Spratt expressed high-praise for the course, which had undergone a series of gallops, jump-outs, and official trials before the green light was given for January 14. 

“That was really good, she skipped along really easily and got a nice enough lead to ping off the corner,” she said.

“It’s beautiful out there, so smooth and you just cruise around the corner. It’s a stunning track.”

Merchant Queen completed the 1200m event in 1.09.51, with a 33.05s last 600m, though the track demonstrated it’s fair nature in the following event as two-year-old So Naïve scorched home from back in the field to score.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s CEO Paul Wilcox was an emotional figure post-race, understandably relieved to see the track performing to expectation. 

“I just feel relieved. It’s been four years of hard work, so it’s pretty cool to see it happen.I think it’s great for Sam Spratt, an Auckland rider to win the first here at Ellerslie on our return as well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Barfoot & Thompson Ellerslie Is Back 3yo 1200m

Ellerslie Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.51
1
Merchant Queen
- 3f Merchant Navy (AUS) x O'reilly Cyrus (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 57
2
1.5
Ethereal Star
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57
3
3.3
My Annie Belle
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: R T Elliot 56
4
4.1
Egyptian Queen
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Hieroglyphics (AUS) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 56
5
6.1
Bevanda
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Good Show (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: Debbie Sweeney Rdr: L H Satherley 56
6
7.6
Funfetti
- 3f Embellish (NZ) x Alternative Fact (NZ) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: A Comignaghi 56
7
7.8
Mafia Mamma
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Deals In Heels (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: M Cameron 56
8
9
Rayet
- 3f Tivaci (AUS) x Save The Stars (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & Ryan Foote Rdr: C R Barnes 57
More Reading...
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 29
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
How Much for a Snitzel Colt from Winx?
The record price for a yearling by the late champion sire Snitzel stands at $2.8million, but that benchmark looks set to be smashed at Inglis Easter next year.
Big Pedigrees Don’t Always Spell Black Type
The breeding of thoroughbreds is a very inexact science which is why we saw siblings to a pair of Group I winners fighting out the finish of a very pedestrian 1100m maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
$3million Won Through Inglis Xtra Bonus
A staggering $3m has now been won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series following today’s victory by the Cody Morgan-trained 3YO Considered at Dubbo.