The rise of Darby Racing flagbearer Iowna Merc over the summer months has been the stuff of dreams for his many owners and he took another step forward on Saturday when winning the $300,000 Group II ATC Ajax Stakes (1500m) in a thriller.
Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Josh Parr, Iowna Merc has thrived on recent racing, relishing the rise in distance and also class. A last start winner of the Group III ATC Liverpool City Cup at 1300m, he upped the ante to win this even tougher assignment by half a head following a titanic battle with runner-up Willaidow.
"Isn't it remarkable. He's so lightly framed. He's a big tall lad like me, I feel like I can wrap my legs around him two times. He's got a big heart and a lot of will to win,” said Josh Parr, who has ridden Iowna Merc in his past three starts.
"Interestingly, Willaidow under pressure started to sneak down to the inside and my bloke followed him too. We were both trying to stay off the fence but as it turned out we fought it out the two of us down on the inside there and lucky for me we got the victory."
It was the third stakes win for Iowna Merc taking the overall record for the Winning Rupert gelding to eight wins and 10 placings from 24 starts with prizemoney topping $1million.
Iowna Merc is one of five stakes-winners for Written Tycoon stallion Winning Rupert, who now stands in Western Australia at Geisel Park.
Bred by Scott Darby, Iowna Merc is the best of three winners from placed Snitzel mare Mercedes, a half-sister to stakes-winner Divine Centuri. She died in 2023 and her last foal is an unnamed two year-old gelding by Time to Reign.
Interestingly, Iowna Merc is another stakes-winner bred on the Written Tycoon x Snitzel nick which has enjoyed a real surge of success this season producing stakes-winners including G1 winners Private Life and Captured By Love as well as The Playwright, Cannonball, To Cap It All and Sanniya.
