As the first stakes race of the season for the juveniles, John McArdle’s baldy-faced chestnut filly Musandam gave nothing else a chance, winning the $175,000 Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) in style.
In the small field of six, jockey Jamie Mott jumped the Kia Ora Stud raced filly away well from barrier four before crossing to take up the running, with Pierata filly Maalefushi settling on the outside of the leader.
Joining up with the course proper as the field crossed the 400m mark, Musandam was still travelling well within herself on the heavy 10 rated surface, while Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Hellbent colt Silent Intent was searching for clear running behind the leading pair.
Ankaa, the third runner for the McEvoy father and son training partnership started to put himself into the picture as the son of Anamoe commenced his run down the outside but as the field passed the 200m mark, it was clear the leading pair had too much on their rivlas as they started to pull away.
Given a shake up a furlong from home, Musandam asserted her superiority, pulling clear in the run to the line to score by a length and three quarters from Maalefushi with a little over a quarter of a length back to the runner up’s stablemate Silent Intent.
Trainer John McArdle was very thankful to the connections for giving him he filly to train.
“This filly was bought by Luke Wilkinson and Shane Wright from Kia Ora,” said McArdle. “Thankfully they entrusted me with her and she's just been an absolute natural.”
“Have a look at her physically, she's well bred and she looks like a colt which does help. She's just been flawless through Kia Ora's breaking and education process.
“She came down to me, had a prep and had a little freshen up. She just hasn't put a step wrong while still doing things that are a little bit wrong at the moment. It was her first start, but she was strong in the finish.
When asked if having experience down the straight held, McArdle was adamant it gave his filly an advantage.
“Five of the six had been down the straight before. It certainly helps. We were a bit green in that jump out being out wide. Today, having the speed to get to the rail, it was very advantageous. 'Popcorn' has got the job done."
As for where she will head next, McArdle felt she would head to the paddock and be aimed at some of the lucrative juvenile races next year.
“We probably won't see her again this spring,” said McArdle. “She'll go to the paddock now and I'll sit down with the team and work out a plan whether that is the Magic Millions or Blue Diamond.”
“She's a valuable filly now. She's a half to a group one winner, she's by a champion stallion, she's a good type and she's a stakes winner as a two-year-old at her first start."
Winning jockey Jamie Mott was full of praise for the filly after her win.
“I think she could be pretty special. I love how relaxed (she was). You wouldn't think she's had a run. She's amazing and she's got a great ability.
“One thing is that she's very raw under pressure. Understandable because she hasn't done a lot of this but she is pretty special.
“I think I won with a bit in hand then. She's strong and she could be over 500-kilos so when she is that well built so early on, she was going to run well and to win with that authority, I think we can hopefully put her away and have a really nice two-year-old.
“She's been getting better each time we've done something with her and one thing she did do at Sandown when I jumped her out, she hung out really badly and wanted to do the same today.
“I actually didn't get to the bottom of her, which is exciting.”
Bred by Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd and Carpe Diem Asset Management Pty Ltd, Musandam was a $470,000 purchase by Kia Ora Stud from Silverdale Farm’s 2026 Magic Millions yearling sale draft.
A three-quarter sister to G1 South Australian Derby winner Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), Musandam is the fifth winner from seven to race out of the imported Tapit mare Zighy Bay (USA).
Zighy Bay foaled a filly by G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland less than a month back.
Musandam became the 176th individual stakes winner for multiple Champion sire Snitzel who unfortunately passed away in June last year.
