Chris Waller has had a lot of success with Torryburn Stud graduates – think Home Affairs and Espiona – and he was on the board early on Golden Slipper day with another Torryburn bred horse when progressive Dundeel mare Mare of Mt Buller claimed her first Black Type win in the $250,000 Group III ATC Epona Stakes (1900m).
Mare of Mt Buller wins the G3 Epona Stakes - image Bradley Photography
Given a perfect ride by Zac Lloyd, Mare of Mt Buller charged along the inside to win by a length as favourite.
“It's her home track, right distance and it was a beautiful ride and that's the difference between winning a race and running third, fourth, fifth. Zac Lloyd is a rising star,” said Chris Waller, who will look to find similar Black Type races for the mare after she has had a chance to regroup.
“We'll see what's around. We said we might just try and keep her as fresh as we can. That's how she seems to race best at sort of second and third starts. So we'll see what's left after today. Otherwise, she might just have a few weeks off or easier training and then be ready to go again.”
Zac Lloyd was the difference between winning and losing for Mare of Mt Buller - image Bradley Photography
A $250,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Yes Bloodstock from the Torryburn Stud draft, Mare of Mt Buller has now won four of 16 starts earning $447,825 and as a Group winner with a strong pedigree has a bright future at stud.
She is a half-sister to Group III placed Light Up the Room and is the best of four winners from five to race from Aliberani, a metro winning Redoute’s Choice grand-daughter of Group I AJC Australian Oaks winner Savana City.
It’s been a prolific Black Type family and includes last year’s Group II MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Coeur Volante.
Aliberani was on-sold by Torryburn Stud in 2022 for $120,000 through Inglis Digital and was then re-offered again on Inglis Digital last year when snapped up by Yes Bloodstock’s Brae Solkolski for $90,000.
Aliberani has a two year-old filly by Dundeel that was offered at the Perth Magic Millions last year where she was purchased by Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock for $150,000.
Aliberani produced a colt by Blue Point (IRE) last year and was then covered by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Mare of Mt Buller is the 36th stakes-winner for Dundeel and is his fourth stakes-winner from a daughter of Redoute’s Choice.
