Former kiwi Matchmaker opened her winning account for trainer Chris Waller when holding the challenge of the fast-finishing Marboosha in Saturday’s Group III China Horse Club PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Completing a momentous day for James McDonald, the 3yo daughter of Makfi (GB) defeated the Dream Ahead (USA) filly Marboosha by a half-head with the Medaglia D'Oro (USA) filly Geist a half-length back in third.
Previously trained in New Zealand by breeder/owners Gus and Bianca Wigley, Matchmaker was making her third start for Waller.
The daughter of Makfi (GB) won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton in October last year.
She’s from the south island in New Zealand, she did a good job over there winning her first start and running in some nice races, picking up some black type,” Waller said.
“Now to come to the big stage here at Royal Randwick and to win on Doncaster day, it’s pretty special.
“The confidence she’ll take out of it is good and naturally you’d expect her to get out over a little bit further as well. So I think she’ll be a nice four-year-old in the autumn.”
Matchmaker is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the Fastnet Rock mare Love Somebody who Inglewood Stud purchased for $28,000 out of the Rosemont Farm draft at the 2015 Inglis Great Southern Broodmare Sale.
Placed four times from seven starts, Love Somebody is a half-sister to stakes=placed Excellent Dancer (Exceed And Excel) out of the Group II AJC Stan Fox Stakes winner Dynamic Love (Brave Warrior).
Love Somebody has a 2yo colt by Zacinto (GB), a yearling filly by Saville Row and a weanling colt by War Decree (USA).
She was covered by War Decree (USA) again last spring.
