Arrowfield shuttler Maurice (Jpn) came to Australia for the first time in 2017 and one of the foals born in his very first crop was G1 winner Mazu, while another was triple G1 winner Hitotsu and while the latter will have his first runners this season, old Mazu turned back the clock at Randwick on Saturday.
Now trained by Joe Pride after being initially prepared by Peter Snowden, eight year-old gelding Mazu went for a winter spell after winning the Group III ATC Hall Mark Stakes, but few thought he could pick up this spring where he left off.
Even with a recent trial win at Gosford, Mazu was sent off at 20-1 for the $1million ATC The Shorts (1100m) with Rachel King in the saddle.
The old boy led and when he was expected to capitulate… it didn’t happen and he kept going to win by half a length over the reigning champion Australian Sprinter Joliestar and his stablemate King’s Secret with G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Spicy Martini a close fourth.
Rachel King has ridden Mazu in his past two wins and knows his quirks only too well as he is a devil to get to the barriers.
“If we didn’t have the pony riders he wouldn’t get there. He tried to kick one cantering today which is a new one. He just does things his own way,” she said.
“They should never forget about him. He’s so honest. The whole preparation last prep he was so honest. I know he only tends to win that one race a year. He’s just re-written that now.
“He deserves another good one. He’s a model of consistency. Even though he gives us hell before the race, he really wants to be there.
“He doesn’t know how old he is and don’t tell him.”
Bred and sold by Parsons Creek Pastoral, Mazu was bought by Triple Crown Syndications for $180,000 at Inglis Classic and has the overall record of 11 wins and 13 placings from 47 starts with earnings topping $11.4million.
Mazu is a half-brother to Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner and Golden Slipper runner up Headway and is the best of six winners from 11 foals to race from Group II placed Flying Spur mare Chatelaine, who is now retired.
Mazu is the highest stake earner for Maurice, who had a red letter day on Saturday with a Group race double as Icelady won the Group II MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, read about her here.
Maurice stands at Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $44,000.
