Arrowfield Stud’s Japanese shuttler Maurice (Jpn) kick-started Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens with the first two winners.
After the Lee and Cherie Curtis-trained Achira flagged her ATC Oaks credentials with a fighting win in a 1500m Midway, the progressive Mazu confirmed his claim among the most progressive three-year-olds in training with a dominant performance in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m).
Ridden by Sam Clipperton for Peter and Paul Snowden, Mazu trailed the leader Omni Man and never left the fence in defeating the Exceed And Excel gelding Bacchanalia by two and a half lengths with the Snitzel filly Smirnova a length furthr back in third.
A last start winner of the Listed Fireball Stakes, Mazu is three for three since being gelded.
The winner of the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes last spring, the Triple Crown Syndications colour bearer advances his record to five wins and a third from nine starts with earnings of $461,350.
Paul Snowden revealed they had given some thought to staring the glorious-looking son of Maurice (JPN) in the Group 1 Galaxy.
“That was a solid effort, we were contemplating starting him in a harder race later in the day,” Snowden said.
“We decided to stay in our lane and keep following the programme. This is just another run to tick him over for the Arrowfield.
“He has always had immense talent. but he was his own worse enemy. He was doing what colts that should not be colts were doing. ‘We did what we had to do with full support of the ownership group and they’re reaping the benefits of that now.
“I have no doubt he will reach top level with time. He will get 7f on his ear. He is relaxing so well now.”
A $180,000 purchase by Triple Crown Syndications out of the Parsons Creek Pastoral draft at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale, Mazu is a half-brother to Headway (Charge Forward) who was crowned the 2008-09 Champion 2yo Filly in Australia. Her four wins included the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and was runner-up in the Golden Slipper.
Mazu is out of the multiple stakes-placed Flying Spur mare Chatelaine, who has a weanling colt by Toronado (IRE) and was covered by King’s Legacy last spring.
