The inaugural NZB Mega Maiden Series had its fifth winner when Dramatic Miss (NZ) (El Roca) produced an impressive performance in Wednesday’s $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) at Wanganui.
The Mega Maiden Series is an exciting new initiative created by NZB and NZTR, and generously supported by Entain. Dramatic Miss earned a $20,000 bonus on Wednesday for her syndicate of owners, while trainer Stephen Marsh picked up a $5,000 bonus.
Dramatic Miss was a $45,000 purchase by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock from Book 2 of Karaka 2023, where she was offered by breeder Westbury Stud. Dramatic Miss has now had three starts for a win and two placings, banking $21,035 – a figure that more than doubles when the Mega Maiden Series bonus is included.
In both of her previous starts, Dramatic Miss finished second behind a classy Karaka graduate that went on to place at stakes level – Prosegur (NZ) (Proisir) at Taupo on October 11, and Romilly (So You Think) at Te Aroha on October 30.
Dramatic Miss was sent out as a $2.40 favourite on Wednesday and lived right up to those expectations. After a comfortable run in sixth along the rail, jockey Harry Grace moved her across heels coming up to the home turn and presented her out wide at the top of the straight.
Dramatic Miss changed gears and powered away with her ears pricked, opening up a winning margin of two lengths.
“She was always travelling like the best horse in the race, which she was,” Grace said. “I was very lucky to pick this ride up. She’s just a class horse from a class stable. They found the right race to put a win away today, and she’s done it well.”
Dramatic Miss has followed in the footsteps of previous Mega Maiden Series winners Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) at Taupo on September 20, Suavetta (NZ) (Almanzor) at Pukekohe on October 16, Reprobate (NZ) (Ace High) at Gore on October 23, and Gatzby (NZ) (Almanzor) at Timaru on November 21.
The Mega Maiden Series is open to all horses entered in the Karaka Millions Series, with a total of $1m in bonuses up for grabs across the 40 non-Saturday maiden races each season for the next three years.
The next race in the 2024/25 edition of the series will be the $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1400m) at Te Rapa on Friday.
| Vendor | Westbury Stud |
| Purchaser | Stephen Marsh Racing/Dylan Johnson Bloodstock (Waikato) |
| Breeding | El Roca – Dramatist |
| Sale | Lot 740, Karaka 2023 Book 2, $45,000 |
| Bred by | G Harvey |
