A quick back up and a couple of gear changes proved winning decisions for progressive Wootton Bassett (GB) juvenile Marwooba, a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for Hawkes Racing.
A luckless sixth on Monday from a wide gate when contesting a 1250m maiden at Canterbury, Marwooba was not in the original entries for the $160,000 open juvenile event at Rosehill on Saturday.
When Team Hawkes noticed the race was light on runners, they seized on the opportunity to give Marwooba another crack and this time for better prizemoney.
A cross over noseband and winkers were added to his gear and given a perfect ride by Dylan Gibbons, Marwooba surged past the favourite to win the 1400m contest by more than a length at his fourth race start.
“With his run on Monday. It was just like a track gallop. He went back from a bad gate and he just ran home in the last two (furlongs), sort of like he would in a track gallop,” said stable representative Steve Thompson.
“He's a good horse with a good constitution, so we elected to see how he pulled up during the week and he pulled up super.
“First thing Tyler (Shiller) said after he rode him on Monday was he's looking for 1400m and a little bit of headgear, so we elected to put the winkers on and cross over.”
Foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Marwooba is the first foal from unraced Fastnet Rock mare Marguns, a sister to Group II placed Italia Belle and daughter of Group I Tatts Tiara winner Pear Tart.
Sadly, Marguns only had one other foal, a yearling filly by Toronado (IRE), and passed away in 2024.
Marwooba is the 47th winner this season for ill-fated Wootton Bassett, who is the leading second crop sire by winners.
