Already the winner of three black type races in Western Australia highlighted by the G2 WA Derby-G3 WA Oaks double, 4yo Maschino mare Machine Gun Gracie was having just her second start for new trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes, recording success in the $250,000 G3 ATC Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.
Finishing behind Ahha Ahha in the G3 Matron Stakes when having her first start for the Hayes team, the 4yo mare was sent to Rosehill where the step up in trip was clearly going to suit, but she was asked to carry top weight of 58kg from barrier 12 of 14.
Going forward to settle in second behind Quietness after it looked as if she would be trapped wide, the Hayes trained mare was sitting on the outside of Matthew Smith’s D’Argento mare Placid Pearl.
With favourite and last start G3 Aspiration Quality winner Pinito settling worse than mid-field and wide under Jams McDonald, there wasn’t much change in the order until the runs started to come just before the turn.
As Machine Gun Gracie set out after Quietness and securing the lead at the 300m mark, jockey Luke Currie did a great job of keeping her going under the big weight to hold off all challengers in the run to the line, pulling clear by just under two lengths.
Improving off her last start Aspiration third placed effort, the Tom Charltong trained Dundeel mare Polymnia worked home well into second, just ahead of Placid Pearl who did a great job to finish third.
Speaking on behalf of the stable, JD Hayes was suitable impressed with the win.
“She's got plenty of X-Factor, enthused Hayes. “She's a lovely big horse when you see her. She's every bit of 17 hands.”
“We'll have a good chat and debrief with the team and the connections here, have a few cold ones and enjoy today. Then work out where we're going, because I think a mare of her calibre we will have plenty of options.”
When asked why she headed across from Western Australia, Hayes indicated they were just ‘very lucky’ to get her.
“They saw our facilities and thought it would really suit Gracie, so we're just very lucky in that regard that we got sent our way and she's gone from strength to strength and she's got plenty of upside.
“We've always had a high opinion of her and it's good to see her convert here today.”
When questioned about why she was ridden forward, jockey Luke Currie explained that she was ridden in similar fashion to her Perth starts.
“It's sort of where we planned to be,” said Currie. “In Perth she raced on speed and was really strong. Last time she was a bit sticky out first-up at home and just rode her quiet from there after a slow start.”
“She had the barrier extension on today because she's so big she doesn't fit in the gates so well.
“She gets very uncomfortable and I thought that's what happened last time. She still didn't begin the fastest, so I had to just give her a little nudge, but she got there and switched straight off and pricked her ears.
She always travelled nice and kind, off a nice tempo. She was always going to be hard to beat.”
Taking her record to five wins (four at black type level) and two second placed performance with earnings of $704375, the Mr J Kelly bred Machine Gun Gracie was a $45,000 purchase for John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA) and Erkelens Racing from the Scenic Lodge draft at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
The best of three winners from three to the races out of the Written Tycoon mare Gracie May has an unraced 2yo colt by Universal Ruler and after two seasons of no mare return was covered by Awesome Rock in the spring.
Machine Gun Gracie is one of 11 stakes winners for Maschino who stands at Alwyn Park Stud who covered a large book of 94 last season at a fee of $8,800.
