Joe Pride has the Midas touch in rejuvenating older horses and has worked his magic on Newhaven Park Stud’s six-year-old Toronado mare Mariamia.
With Tim Clark in the saddle, Mariamia opened her stakes account in Saturday’s Group II Furphy Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
Enjoying a cosy run, one out one back, Mariamia increased her margin at every call in the straight to defeat the Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile (Astern) by two and three-quarter lengths with Nicolini Vito (Nicconi) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
A dual Group III placegetter, Mariamia, was purchased by Newhaven Park for $335,000 off Shane Stockdale at the 2022 Inglis March (Early) Online Sale.
She has won three of seven for Pride, advancing her overall record to seven wins, three seconds, and seven thirds from 35 starts with earnings of $573,610.
Mariamia was a late entry for the race when nominations were extended.
“It’s not very often I late nom horses if you think you haven’t got the right race, you probably shouldn’t be there. But it looked like an opportunity for her, and I was surprised how well she went today,” Pride said.
“I will take a mare anywhere there is some opportunity, and that presented itself early on in the week.
“I have a lot of time for that mare, but she pinged there today. It was only off a two-week break after a really good first up run. A really good performance.”
“Based on what she did today, there will be some really nice races for her over the carnival.
“She came to the stable less than 12 months ago and has done really well in that time. I love these tried horses. They’ve been great, the Kellys, to source some really good horses over the years for me. The job is not done yet. She will definitely go to stud at the end of this season but hopefully, some more fun before then.”
An $18,000 purchase from the Swettenham Stud draft from book 2 of the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Mariamia is the best of two winners from three to race for the Encosta de Lago mare Quinta Lago.
A sister to Group II-placed Halekulani and a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 VRC Derby hero Warning (Declaration of War), Quinta Lago was dropped from official records in 2020.
Bred by Adam Sangster, Mariamia is the 30th stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s High Chapparal (IRE) stallion Toronado (IRE).
