Improving off a close-up second in the Listed Oaklands Plate last start, two-year-old Maurice filly Ethereum Girl was too classy, winning the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Becoming the 30th two-year-old win of the season for the formidable Ben, Will and JD Hayes stable, just an hour or so after juvenile colt Shining Smile recorded success at Flemington, the lightly raced Ethereum Girl was well supported to jump away the favourite.
Settling in a mid-field position under jockey Jason Holder, interestingly the three runners in the race by Darley’s Too Darn Hot settled one-two-three with the maiden galloper Too Hot Too Handle leading on the rail before last start winner Volkano took the lead just before the home turn.
With the leaders weakening, Holder asserted his authority aboard Ethereum Girl as the filly pulled her way to the lead, charging away and holding off the late challenge of Mostly For Show (Vadamos) to record her first black type success.
Catching the eye late, the Andrew Gluyas trained Tiptop Tori (Grunt) could be one to follow, coming home from back in the field for third – interestingly, all three placegetters came through the Oaklands Plate last start behind the dual winning Tivaci colt Matahga (NZ).
Speaking from Flemington, Ben Hayes was effusive in his praise of the two-year-olds in the stable.
“It’s been our best year to date with the two-year-olds,” Hayes said.
“It’s something that we’ve really worked on in the last couple of years, it’s something that our father was very good at.
“It’s nice to have a very good season, and we’ve got some really exciting horses coming into the spring now.”
Purchased for $275,000 from the draft of Glenbeigh Farm at the Magic Millions yearling sale, Ethereum Girl is the third winner from three to race out of the Charge Forward mare Moonchild.
A half-sister to the Listed-winning, Group 3 placed Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard), Ethereum Girl comes from the extended family of Horse of the Year and nine-time Group 1 winner Northerly as well as fellow Group 1 winners North Boy and Bjorn Baker’s dual Group 1 winner Overpass, a winner of more than $10m for connections.
Ethereum Girl is one of the 32 stakes winners for Arrowfield Stud’s shuttle stallion Maurice, whose southern hemisphere runners are led by history-maker and triple Group 1 winner Hitotsu as well as $9m earner Mazu.
Maurice will stand for a fee of $55,000 (inc. GST) alongside his best son Hitotsu who will stand for $22,000 (inc. GST) in the spring.
