With victories in NSW, Victoria and Queensland since July, Ciaron Maher’s Better Than Ready gelding Epic Proportions has produced some strong efforts in his last four starts in the sunshine state, but none more so than his effort of Saturday to win the Listed BRC Keith Noud Stakes (1200m) when leading throughout.
Resuming off a trial win, the multiple stakes placed Kobayashi mare Midnight In Tokyo was looking to improve on her third placed finish in this race last year, jumping away from barrier five as the race favourite.
From the outside barrier, apprentice jockey Ms Tahlia Fenlon was keen to cross the field aboard Epic Proportion with the second favourite going to the lead where the position was maintained under a very solid tempo.
Heading into the home turn, Epic Proportions was still leading, and was starting to extend, while Ben Thompson was commencing to wind up Midnight In Tokyo and although she made up many lengths, the margin was too great to close.
Crossing the line a length and a quarter clear, Epic Proportions recorded his first stakes victory, with Midnight In Tokyo securing her eighth black type placing when finishing in second with the Melissa Kelly trained Oughton charging along the rail into third.
Taking his record to seven wins and seven second placed efforts from 25 starts with $471,150 in earnings, the Yarramalong-bred Epic Proportions was a $70,000 purchase by his trainer at the Magic Millions yearling sale.
“It’s a big achievement of mine and to be able to do it for such a high-class trainer (Ciaron Maher) is awesome,” Fenlon said.
“Every time I get off him (Epic Proportions) now I think ‘I really hope they stick with me’ because I enjoy riding him and it’s a big opportunity coming from a small town to the big smoke.
“And finally winning a Listed race, I could only ever have dreamed of that.”
“I feel like I was very lucky to have this come my way.
“Having won on him two starts ago when I made 50.5kg, it took a little bit of effort to get down to that but it was a big accomplishment riding that weight and winning on him.
“And obviously Ciaron sticking with me and keeping me on, even when I don’t claim in a Listed race, was a very big honour and it paid off.
“I’m so grateful to Ciaron because they’re high-end trainers and can get whatever jockeys they want up here.
“It was very special that they kept me on the horse and I’m appreciative of that. It definitely opens the doors to more opportunities.”
One of six winners, and first at black type level from six to the races out of the Commands mare Commanding Epic from the family of Snitzel’s Champion NZ 2YO Colt Sword Of State, the Slade Bloodstock syndicated Epic Proportions will surely look to play a role in the summer sprinting races on offer in Queensland.
Also, in the Ciaron Maher stable, Epic Proportions’ 3yo sister Satin Diva has shown promise with a win and a second in her only two starts for her all-female ownership group, having been purchased by Slade Bloodstock and her trainer.
The current 2yo out of Commanding Epic is an unnamed colt by Newgate Farm’s Brutal who was passed in at this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale and after missing to Better Than Ready the following season the foaled an Alpine Eagle colt just over a month ago.
Epic Proportions became the 16th individual black type winner for her Lyndhurst Stud Farm based sire Better Than Ready who will be represented by 35 lots at January’s Magic Millions yearling sale while both the second and third placegetters will be represented by half relations at the sale; Lot 641 is a Capitalist half brother to Midnight In Tokyo, while Lot 1087 is a Spirit of Boom half brother to Oughton.
