Having her first start for the Michael Freedman stable, 3yo Harry Angel (IRE) filly Mareth powered late at Canterbury on Friday night to break her maiden in style, winning the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m) by a length and a quarter.
Having already had some success for the powerful Godolphin stable led by the Group 2 Callander-Presnell success of 3yo I Am Invincible colt OHope, Freedman looks to have a progressive filly on his hands with Mareth.
Starting the second favourite behind Gary Portelli’s Performance (Snitzel), who was making her debut, the Tommy Berry ridden Mareth settled back in the field with another of Portelli’s runners Capdiva (Capitalist) taking the lead from the outside barrier.
With Capdiva ensuring there was nice pace upfront, Berry bided his time in fourth before urging his filly to the outside to make her run.
With Capdiva still clear at the 200m mark, her stablemate Performance came off her back to make a challenge where it looked as if the Portelli stable would quinella the race.
Chiming in down the outside, Berry swooped on the leading duo at the 50m, and in a matter of strides had the race won in impressive fashion.
With two trials under her belt leading into her first run for her new stable, Mareth looks to still have plenty of improvement and could be one to watch in the coming weeks.
Mareth is winner the second winner from two runners out of the Exceed And Excel mare Ellenroh, a winning sister to the Group 3 placed Jerle, both out of Lonrho and Niello’s full sister Shannara, herself a dual Listed-winning daughter of Shadea (NZ).
From a family that also consists of Group 1 winners Cylinder, Devise and Catalyst, Group 2 winners Zakouski, Autumn Ballet, King Lionhart and Zurella, the Darley bred and owned Ellenroh unfortunately slipped to Street Boss (USA) the year after foaling Mareth, but has since foaled colts by Ribchester (IRE) and Triple Time (IRE).
The sire of 20 international stakes winners highlighted by Australian Group 1 winners Tom Kitten, Private Harry and War Machine, Harry Angel stood this season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) at Darley Kelvinside.
