Pariah Mare Vagrant Dominant in Bellmaine Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 3

Following wins at Caulfield and Flemington, the 4-year-old Pariah mare Vagrant made it three on the bounce with a first stakes success in Saturday's Group III Lamaro's Hotel Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Vagrant lets loose (image Grant Courtney)

Vagrant lets loose (image Grant Courtney)

Given a positive ride by Beau Mertens, the Mitchell Freedman-trained mare overpowered the Capitalist mare Penthouse by one and a quarter lengths, with the Rubick mare Party For One one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

A $130,000 purchase for her trainer from the Twin Hills Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vagrant advances her record to five wins, two seconds, and a third from 16 starts with earnings of $321,055.

Vagrant had made one previous stakes start, finishing third in the Listed Oaklands Stakes at Morphettville at two.

"Mitch wanted me to be handy from the low draw but to can it if it was going to take her out of her comfort zone," Mertens said.

"We ended three back on the fence following Blake (on Party For One). They rolled along, and Jordy (Childs on Penthouse) was far ahead of me. When I was building up from the 600m and getting more room she kept finding, I could feel her building the revs up, and I thought she was home a long way out.  

"The relationship with Mitch has been fantastic. It started with Skybird, and we haven't looked back since, leading to Attrition with a Group 1. He brings his horses to the races in good order, and he has been training winner after winner for the last six months. They run a good operation, and it is a credit to the team."

Advertisement

Bred by Olly Tait, Vagrant is the best of two winners from as many to race for the talented Lonhro mare My Obsession.

That winning feeling (image Grant Courtney)

That winning feeling (image Grant Courtney)

A Moonee Valley winner for Darren Weir, My Obsession is a half-sister to Given (Canny Lad), who won the Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes in 1998 when it was known as the Hyderabad RC Stakes.

Given's daughter Bequests (Stravinsky) is the dam of Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (Zacinto).

Vagrant is the second stakes-winner for Pariah after Swiss Exile.

The son of Redoute's Choice stands at Oaklands Stud for $8,800.

Advertisment

Race Result - Lamaro's Hotel Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes Gr3 1200m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:08.76
1
Vagrant
- 4m Pariah (AUS) x My Obsession (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
2
1.3
Penthouse
- 4m Capitalist (AUS) x Undoubted Pleasure (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
3
3
Party For One
- 5m Rubick (AUS) x Ascalon (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Shinn 56
4
4.8
Wrote To Arataki
- 5m Wrote (IRE) x Galloping Gerte (NZ) (Align (AUS))
Tnr: M J Williams Rdr: D Yendall 59
5
4.9
California Surreal
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Serene Majesty (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 56
6
5.4
A Little Deep
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Laugh A Little (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 56
7
9.1
Sneaky Paige
- 5m Deep Field (AUS) x Manandro Girl (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Damian Lane 56
8
9.2
Cute As
- 4m Thronum (AUS) x Miss Cutie (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: S Fliedner Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
More Reading...
Bowness Stud Announce D’Argento’s 2025 Fee
With his current crop of three-year-olds exceeding expectations on what they achieved last season at two, Group 1 winner D’Argento (So You Think) will remain at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST), with live foal payments terms applying for the upcoming breeding season.
Ole Kirk Share Added to MM National Broodmare Sale
A share in first season sire sensation Ole Kirk will be offered on Day One of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Doomben Cup
The first Doomben Cup was run two days after the first Doomben 10,000 as part of the track's gala opening program in 1933 with total prize money of £1000 and a gold cup valued at £100 – fast forward to 2025 and they will race on Saturday for $1million.
Alabama Express share headlines May (Late) Online Sale
A share in dynamic young stallion Alabama Express, a Stakes-winning Too Darn Hot 3YO colt and mares on desirable covers headline the Inglis Digital May (Late) Online Sale, which is now open for bidding.
Stakes performers offered on gavelhouse.com
The latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com offers buyers a golden opportunity to add black-type performance to their broodmare band.
New Wootton Bassett G3 Winner
The Group III Gallinule Stakes (1m2f) for three year-olds at The Curragh overnight produced an epic battle to the line between three very competitive colts that ended in the steward’s room with victory given to Wootton Bassett colt Thrice.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 23
Here is the full list of 52 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Better than Ready 2YO Isti Star Wins $1million MM National
Better than Ready is on track to be crowned Champion Queensland Sire for the third year in a row and put the icing on the cake when his brilliant two year-old filly Isti Star scored a dazzling win in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday evening.
Lovatsville Announce 2025 Fees
Following the announcement of exciting Group 1-winning 2-year-old, Move To Strike, Lovatsville have released their fees for the entire roster with each of Royal Meeting (Ire), Fierce Impact (Jpn), Generation and Gold Trip (Fr) remaining at their 2024 quote.
More Sejardan Weanlings for MM National
Blue Gum Farm’s fast Group II winning Sebring son Sejardan made his presence felt in a big way at the recent Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for a stallion that stood first season at a fee of just $13,750.