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Promising Winner for Merchant Navy

Tara Madgwick - Thursday Oct 20

Sporting the colours of Everest hero Giga Kick, promising Merchant Navy filly Drop the Verse opened her account with a stylish win at Ballarat on Thursday.

Drop the Verse wins at Ballarat - image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Trained by Matthew Ellerton, Drop the Verse is a homebred for Jonathan Munz as is Giga Kick, and she looked a bright prospect for the future when resuming from a spell to post an easy win.

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Seventh on debut back in April, she was easy in the market but powered to the line to win the 1000m maiden by two lengths.

“She’s improved a lot from her break and has matured and gotten a little bit stronger as well,” said winning rider Damien Thornton.

“Looking at her in the yard, her coat is still to come through so there is more improvement to come and she should progress from here.”

Drop the Verse is a three-quarter sister to Group III winner Kaepernick and is the seventh winner from seven foals to race from stakes-winning Stravinsky (USA) mare Volcada.

Her half-brother by Zoustar sold for $160,000 at Inglis Easter this year and has been pinhooked into the NZB Ready to Run Sale where he will be offered as Lot 322 and galloped his breeze up session this week in 10.41 seconds.

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Race Result - Height Insurance Agencies Mdn 1000m

Ballarat Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.69
1
Drop The Verse
- 3f Merchant Navy (AUS) x Volcada (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Damien Thornton 55.5
2
2.0
Strapparsi
- 3f Deep Field (AUS) x Let Her Rip (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: Jarrod Fry 55.5
3
2.2
Roaring Miss
- 3f Siyouni (FR) x Miss Super Quick (USA) (Rock Hard Ten (USA))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: Zac Spain 55.5
4
2.4
Extratwo
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Red Pixie (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: S V Brown Rdr: H Coffey 55.5
5
3.4
Belluna
- 4m Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Believabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: B Mc Dougall 58
6
3.9
Meetmein Melbourne
- 3f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Pane In The Glass (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: B Shinn 55.5
7
4.3
Shrimp
- 3f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Crevettine (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jye McNeil 55.5
8
6.8
Lipstick Lies
- 3f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Light Romance (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Liam Riordan 55.5
9
7.2
Christina
- 3f Good Journey (USA) x Libor Lady (USA) (Exchange Rate (USA))
Tnr: D R Brideoake Rdr: Beau Mertens 55.5
10
7.5
Centrefoldstar
- 4m Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Miss January (AUS) (High Yield (USA))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: Dean Holland 58
11
8.2
Skyzie Bell
- 4m Nicconi (AUS) x Cinnamon Bells (AUS) (Catbird (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: John Allen 58
12
11.2
Atahu
- 3f Squamosa (AUS) x Kiwi Charm (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Teodore Nugent 55.5
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