Hard Spun's Gatting Shocks in Makybe Diva

Mark Smith - Saturday September 14

The flags were flying proudly in Perth on Saturday as shortly after their champion Arcadia Queen captured the Group II Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill with a minimum of fuss, the hard-knocking Gatting did what he failed to achieve in three starts at home, win a race at the highest level.

While the odds-on favourite Arcadia Queen received a rousing reception, Gatting, a 6yo gelded son of Hard Spun (Danzig), captured the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at his first look at Flemington and returned to scale in the silence reserved for $101 winners that have just knocked off the short-priced favourite.

Advertisement


With Jamie Kah having her first sit on the Darren Mcauliffe-trained gelding, Gatting was always travelling sweetly on pace and proved three-quarters of a length too good for the Tassie champion Mystic Journey (Needs Further) with the same distance back to Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) who flashed home to be a luckless third.  (images Grant Courtney)

It was the second Group 1 for Kah and a first for Mcauliffe.

"I've always had a lot of faith in the horse," Mcauliffe said.

"He didn't have things go his way first-up but he's got form around Arcadia Queen that we saw win in Sydney and I think we've raced Scales Of Justice a couple of times and beaten him home each time.

"Jamie rode him perfectly, following instructions to the letter, and we got it right.

"He's a good horse, we've got a Group One now, so it's fantastic."


Gatting holds an entry to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and is likely to make his next start in Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on September 29 ahead of the Caulfield Stakes on October 12.

With his first win at the highest level, Gatting advances his record to 11 wins, 8 seconds and 4 thirds from 38 starts with earnings of $1,896,200.

Lonhro is really making a name as a broodmare sire and Gatting is the first foal of his daughter Stubborn who was a 7-start maiden.

A bargain $17,000 purchase at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Stubborn went through the same sale in 2018 where she was purchased by Mark Pilkington Management/Cornerstone Stud for $200,000 when she was carrying a filly by Hinchinbrook that tragically died after birth.

A full-sister to the Group III STC Research Stakes winner Trim, the dam of Listed winner Manicure (Exceed And Excel), Stubborn was covered by So You Think last spring.

Gatting joins triple Group 1 winner Le Romain and Group 1 SAF Cape Derby Stakes winner Ertijaal as winners at the highest level from five seasons at stud in Australia by the 2007 Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes winner Hard Spun (USA).

Advertisment
More Reading...
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Aussie breeds Swedish Derby winner
Former shuttle-sire Hard Spun is responsible for the latest Swedish Derby winner Red Cactus - and he's bred by an Australian!.