Coming off a third in the Group III Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick, the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) filly Mamounia scored a well-deserved maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Elvis Thurgood Galilee Final (2400m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for James cummings, the Godolphin colour-bearer defeated The Cunning Fox (Reliable Man) by three-quarters of a length with Fearentless (Fiorente) a length back in third.
Stable rep Sean Keogh said the stable had a good opinion of the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro.
“Watching the good races over the last couple of weeks, you could say that the Melbourne horses had good success being conditioned on the (firmer) tracks and then heading up and working on the heavy tracks,” Keogh said.
“Only yesterday James was saying that there is plenty of speed there, so it is a credit to the horse. Now that she’s conditioned with a couple of runs under her belt, she’s a lovely staying prospect.”
Kah believes Mamounia is best with a bit of cut in the ground.
“I think she’s probably going to prefer it a bit softer than these tracks,” Kah said.
“She loved it in Sydney, and today she hit the front and just shortened stride a few times.
“She was obviously too good. She ran a super race, but I reckon she’s going to appreciate a little more give in the track.
“There was a bit going on there. People were starting their runs early, and I just knew I had a lot of horse underneath me, and I didn’t want to get into that temptation to get going.
“She rewarded me in the end. She’s a lovely filly, and it’s good to get this win for the team.”
A three-quarter sister to Astern, Mamounia is the first foal of the 3-time winner Marrakesh (Lonhro).
Marrakesh is a daughter of Darley’s blue hen Essaouira, dam of Group 1 winners Alizee and Astern and stakes-placed Tassort and Mogador.
Marrakesh has an unraced 2yo I Am Invincible filly named Rhettara
And a yearling I Am Invincible colt named Massira.
After foaling a Street Boss (USA) colt last spring, Marrakesh was covered by Blue Point (IRE).
Mamounia is stakes winner 165 for former Darley shuttler Medaglia d’Oro (USA).
