A Breednet ‘One to Watch’ when winning on debut at Bendigo at the start of the month, the Ciaron Maher trained filly Over the Bridge wasted no time stepping up in class to score a stylish victory in the Group III MVRC Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
Despite taking on seasoned stakes class fillies at just her second start, Over the Bridge was sent off as favourite with Mark Zahra to ride and duly delivered the goods for her fans.
Three wide throughout, Over the Bridge surged late to reel in I Am Invincible fillies I Am Aria and Scintillation to win by a head.
A beautiful, athletic bay by Toronado (IRE), Over the Bridge carries the hopes and dreams of a big and very excited new team of owners as part of Unbridled Racing, the new Ciaron Maher micro-share racing enterprise.
"It's fantastic. One, to get a win for the boys and two, for Unbridled. Adam and the whole team have put a lot of effort into getting the business off the ground. To have a horse like this, she's put the writing on the wall but that was pretty good today,” said Ciaron Maher.
"To win a race like that second-up and I knew she was a bit raw. As Zach (Merrett) said, I put the cold water on on Monday. I thought she was way unders what she should be, but the market had it right and her future is very bright. She's got it all ahead of her.
"Mark needed to pull out his best there. I thought we were going to get rolled halfway down the straight. He's a master, he's fantastic, and like the boys (footy players) are on the field they're bloody good at it."
A $250,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Kulani Park draft, Over the Bridge has had two starts for two wins earning over $165,000.
She is the second winner from two foals to race from Waafiya, a winning Snitzel daughter of stakes-winner You’re So Good from the family of dual Group I winner Melito.
Waafiya traces back to renowned Victorian blue hen Summoned, so Over the Bridge lacks for nothing on the score of pedigree.
Waafiya has a two year-old colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) that made $500,000 at Magic Millions this year when bought by Equine Growth Fund/SP Bloodstock/Blueblood Thoroughbreds/Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and she has a yearling filly to follow by Pierata.
Waafiya was covered last spring by Home Affairs so the result of that mating will be highly anticipated.
Over the Bridge is the 54th stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s flagship sire Toronado (IRE), who stands at a fee of $88,000.
