Per Incanto Mare Marble Arch Wins G2 Blamey

Media Release - Saturday March 1

Previously a runner-up in two black-type races, Marble Arch went one better on Saturday with a valuable victory in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington to credit her sire Per Incanto (USA) with a 33rd stakes-winner.

Marble Arch wins the G2 Blamey Stakes - image Grant Courtney

The New Zealand-bred five-year-old had been narrowly beaten in two recent attempts in stakes company, going down by a half-length when second in the Listed Lord Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day and by neck when second in the Gr.3 JRA Plate (1600m) at Caulfield on February 8.

But this time Marble Arch would not be denied. Jockey Michael Dee sat in a handy position just behind the leaders before presenting Marble Arch three wide early in the run home. Marble Arch showed a quality turn of foot and burst to the front with 200m remaining.

Attrition and Zardozi produced strong finishes to eat into the margin late in the piece, but Marble Arch coasted to a comfortable two-length victory.

“She really deserved that,” said Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD. “She’s been bridesmaid a couple of times in stakes races this prep. To win a Group Two is just huge for her residual value.

“The ownership group are fantastic – Steve and Vicky Thompson, they’re great supporters of ours. To win a Group Two for them is just a huge result. She’s been a great success story. She was a Future Stars winner on a Thursday (in 2023) in her first Australian start.

“She got such a good run today. It was a great ride by Michael. There was good speed there and we ended up in a perfect position with no weight.”

Dee was similarly impressed.

“She peeled out and we had that race shot to bits a long way from home,” he said. “She cruised into it, hit the front without doing any work and really quickened away. She’s in great form at the minute and hopefully that continues.”

Advertisement

Marble Arch owners celebrate - image Grant Courtney

The winner of the Blamey Stakes earns a ballot-free entry for the A$2.5 million Gr.1 All Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday, and the Lindsay Park team will seriously consider backing up with Marble Arch.

“If she pulls up well, it won't be a hard decision with a mare in such good form,” Hayes said. “She was quite impressive today, so we’ll definitely be considering it.

“We've just got to see how she pulls up, but if she pulls up well, I think it'll be an easy vote to run.

“I think she has the right constitution to back up. I think that's her tenth run for the prep and she's just been super-consistent.”

Per Incanto (USA) is the sire of Marble Arch.

A daughter of Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto, Marble Arch was purchased privately by the Lindsay Park team after finishing third at Wanganui in her only start in New Zealand for trainer Wayne Marshment.

Bred by Goodwood Stud, Marble Arch is out of the four-win Sakhee’s Secret mare Jonquil and stems from the family of Group One winners Atishu and Daffodil.

The now five-year-old mare was initially sold as a weanling for just $3,100 via gavelhouse.com.

Saturday’s victory was Marble Arch’s ninth career win from 22 starts, with a further five placings, and she advanced her career earnings to A$790,646. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - TAB Blamey Stakes Gr2 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:34.42
1
Marble Arch
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Jonquil (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret (GB))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 53
2
2
Attrition
- 5h Churchill (IRE) x Queen's Kiss (AUS) (French Deputy (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
Churchill
Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA
Buyer: Mitch Freedman Racing
3
2.4
Zardozi
- 4m Kingman (GB) x Chanderi (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Melham 56
4
2.6
Poison Chalice
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Urban (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: D Moor 55
5
4.1
Steparty
- 4g Artie Schiller (USA) x Watch Your Step (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: B Mc Dougall 55
6
5.1
Plenty Of Ammo
- 6m Rebel Raider (AUS) x Millie's Reef (AUS) (Floral Pegasus (AUS))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
7
5.3
Future History
- 7g Showcasing (GB) x Likelihood (USA) (Mizzen Mast (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 57
8
8.1
Just Folk
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Fast Ruby (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: J Mott 57
9
9.6
Place du Carrousel
- 6m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Traffic Jam (IRE) (Duke Of Marmalade (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 53
More Reading...
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Wins Epsom Oaks for Coolmore
The Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) had a raging hot favourite in undefeated Godolphin entry Desert Flower, but she came up short in her first try at the classic trip going down to finish third behind the Aidan O’Brien trained duo Minnie Hauk (Frankel and Whirl (Wootton Bassett).
Marble Arch Does Goodwood Stud Proud
Goodwood Stud has downsized its thoroughbred operation in more recent times, but the Manawatu farm remains a breeding force to be reckoned with.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
Kicked out of Australia - Jan Brueghel Wins G1 Coronation
The horse kicked out of Australia last spring as not having suitable scans to race in the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel showed just what we missed out on seeing when taking out the Group I Betfred Coronation Cup (1m4f) at Epsom overnight.