The $250,0000 Group III MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a quinella for a couple of progressive Home Affairs colts with Marffiano charging late to snatch a narrow win over Barracks.
The Lindsay Park trained Marffiano was first up from a spell after a four start juvenile campaign that yielded a win and a stakes-placing in Brisbane during the winter carnival.
Overlooked by punters, he was sent off at 40-1 with Luke Currie to ride, but belied the lack of market support to burst from the pack with 100m to run.
The Ciaron Maher trained Barracks took a split between horses and looked set for victory until Marffiano grabbed him right on the line to win by half a head with both colts showing potential for more to come.
MARFFIANO ON THE LINE ?? The Hayes boys get one back over Ciaron Maher ?? @lindsayparkrace https://t.co/LHmdzvav6w
— 7HorseRacing ?? (@7horseracing) October 17, 2026
Marffiano has the overall record of two wins and a second from five starts with prizemoney just shy of $400,000 and the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes is on the radar.
“We really liked him, we were taken by his trial. He was behind War Machine in that trial and the form's been pretty good. So, great ride by Luke Currie, full credit, he took his medicine and rode for luck and we got it and it was really nice to get the photo finish our way,” said Will Hayes.
"He's definitely a horse that we can see running in a Coolmore (G1), one of those really nice races for three year olds. He's got very good form up in Queensland last preparation and we always had trust in him and that was just a great result.”
Marffiano was a $475,000 Magic Millions purchase from Lime Country Thoroughbreds for Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA)/Lindsay Park Racing and was a successful pinhook having been sourced from the Pepper Tree Farm draft at Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $280,000 by James Bester Bloodstock.
Bred by Iskander Racing, Marffiano is a half-brother to Group II winning colt Tycoon Star, who is also trained by the Lindsay Park team.
Marffiano is the second foal and second winner from Group III placed Miss Iano, who was bought by Yulong in 2024 from the MM National Broodmare Sale for $310,000.
They sold a yearling Written Tycoon colt from her at Inglis Easter this year for $1.3million to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock / David Redvers Bloodstock, so her broodmare career is certainly off to a flyer!
Marffiano is the sixth stakes-winner for Home Affairs, who is covering a full book at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $176,000.
