Half to Madam Pommery Breaks Maiden

Breednet - Thursday January 18

Buoyed by a satisfying midweek success, Stephen Marsh will be hoping to add to his tally on Saturday with a four-strong team engaged at Trentham, including a pair of strong Group One chances.

The Cambridge trainer was delighted to see his well-related Pierro filly Moet Down open her winning account at Te Rapa on Wednesday at her fourth appearance.

Moet Down

She is the first horse raced by the all-female Heels & Hooves Syndicate, who are supporting a worthy cause with the filly.

“They are donating a percentage of their prizemoney to the Breast Cancer Foundation,” Marsh said.

He purchased Moet Down for A$200,000 at the Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by Coolmore.

“Since we bought her, the half-sister (Madame Pommery) won the Thousand Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) in Melbourne and it’s a family that’s booming,” Marsh said.

She is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Cancel, who is a sister to the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner Earthquake.

Marsh will be banking on Moet Down’s victory to be a forerunner to further success at Trentham where he will have stable newcomer Skyman and El Vencedor in the Gr.1 Harcourts Team Group Thorndon Mile (1600m).

Skyman is owned by Go Racing and won nine races, including four at Listed level, from Chris Waller’s Sydney operation. He hasn’t raced since December, but is forward to resume.

“He’s in good order, his trial was great and he had an exhibition gallop at Matamata. He’s going really well,” Marsh said.

Advertisement

Skyman will be ridden by expatriate Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse, who was booked following a surprise call.

“We got a message from Mason Stevens, who used to work in New Zealand, saying would you put Daniel on and I said yes, without a doubt. He’s a very good rider,” Marsh said.

“It’s hard to split Skyman and El Vencedor, who has drawn nicely and will jump and put himself right there.”

El Vencedor won the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) two runs back and the Shocking gelding followed up with a solid third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and will again be ridden by Joe Doyle.

Marsh’s other Trentham runners are Doddle in The Oaks Stud Remutaka Classic (2100m) and Sako in the Rydges Wellington Airport Premier (1200m) with Sam Weatherley to partner the pair.

Doddle returned to her best form at her most recent appearance when the Dundeel mare successfully stepped up to Saturday’s distance at Tauranga earlier this month.

“She’s going very well and it’s going to be a great race with $350,000 up. She has certainly done nothing wrong,” Marsh said.

A son of Ardrossan, Sako finished a close second at Te Rapa last month in his first appearance for three months.

“He was good last start and has an average gate (10), but he does have early speed and looks a nice chance,” Marsh said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
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.
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?
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.