There are just two stakes races in Australia on Saturday as the season limps steadily to its conclusion.
In Western Australia, the Listed Belmont Classic for three-year-olds takes centre stage, while at Morphettville Parks, the two-year-olds will have their last shot at black-type in the Listed Oaklands Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly Mac ‘N’ Cheese deserves a change of fortune in Saturday’s feature at Morphettville.
Well-fancied to make a winning debut over 1100m at Bendigo on May 16, the daughter of Sebring was slowly away. Cramped for room in the straight, she finished strongly to fall a neck short of the talented Star Turn filly All About Eve.
It was a similar tale of woe a fortnight later over 1400m at Sandown.
Allowed to lope along at the tail of the field, Mac ‘N’ Cheese had difficulty finding clear air in the straight. She finished fast to be edged out by the promising Tarzino colt Jungle Magnate.
Bred by Nick Vass, Mac ‘N’ Cheese was a $300,000 purchase by Spendthrift Australia from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the third live foal of the class racemare and even better producer Bonnie Mac.
After breaking her maiden for Mike Moroney at Matamata in December 2011, Bonnie Mac scored over 1400m at Trentham a month later.
The daughter of Thorn Park crossed the Tasman to take her record to five consecutive wins when reeling off victories at Ballarat, Caulfield and Morphettville.
The latter was in the Listed Proud Miss Stakes, where the vanquished included the VRC Edward Manifold Stakes winner Sistine Angel, multiple Group III winner Power Princess, Magnus’ stakes-winning sister Arctic Flight and stakes-winners Just Sibyl, All Friared Up and Golden Penny.
You could forgive racegoers for not remembering the race. It was the last race of the day, coming forty minutes after Black Caviar won the Goodwood, while the crowd favourite Linton, hero of the 2013 Stradbroke Handicap, had won the R.A. Lee Stakes earlier in the day.
The five-start winning streak ended in the Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm, won by Red Tracer. Bonnie Mac failed to win again.
Purchased for $90,000 at the 2009 NZB Select Yearling Sale by one top New Zealand-born judge of bloodstock, Paul Moroney, Bonnie Mac caught the eye of another renowned kiwi agent, Guy Mulcaster when offered by Oakwood Farm at the 2014 National Broodmare Sale.
In foal to Sepoy, Bonnie Mac was knocked down for $460,000.
Tragically, the Sepoy foal died after birth, and things did not improve the following season when she missed to Exceed And Excel.
It was brighter news in 2017 when the daughter of Thorn Park foaled a colt by Exceed And Excel.
Purchased by Vinery Stud for $180,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the colt named Exceedance made a memorable racetrack debut at Wyong in May 2019.
Shortly after Bonnie Mac was in the ring again when bought by Allam Racing/Andrew Williams Bloodstock, for $375,000 when carrying a colt by Capitalist.
Under the training of Team Hawkes, Exceedance would prove himself one of the elite three-year-old colts in the nation.
In a career of just nine starts, Exceedance won the Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes and Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes before earning a spot on the Vinery Stud roster.
Bonnie Mac made it two from two stakes-winners when Exceedance’s brother Oxley Road won the Group III MRC Zedative Stakes.
Purchased by Stephen Gray for $125,000 at the 2019 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale, this Peter Moody-trained son Of Exceed And Excel has made just three starts to date, so it’s all ahead of him.
So, Mac ‘N’ Cheese will be vying to make it three from three stakes winners for Bonnie Mac on Saturday.
Sadly, Bonnie Mac died in May last year.
But we have not heard the last of the half-sister to Group III winners Upham (Mastercraftsman) and Intimate Moment (Dubawi), and Listed winner Gold Rum (Golan).
Remember that Capitalist colt that Bonnie Mac was carrying when she was sold?
He was one of the star attractions at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Consigned by Yarraman Park Stud, the magnificent chestnut was bought by Hickman Racing for $1,050,000.
