Bellereve Stud’s new recruit Eurozone had an interstate double on Saturday with Diplomatic Measure making it three wins and a second from her last four at Morphettville while Mystery Love bounced back to her best when she resumed at Caulfield.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Mystery Love won her first three starts including the Listed Bendigo Guineas.
Following a third behind the top-class Tofane at Moonee Valley the daughter of Eurozone disappointed at Caulfield back in September last year and was sent for a long spell.
She returned over 1100 metres at Caulfield on Saturday and could not have been more impressive.
Last of the eight runners on the turn, Mystery Love rounded them up in a matter of strides under little more than a hand ride by Damien Oliver to defeat the 4yo I Am Invincible mare Prophet’s Thumb by one and a half lengths with a short-neck back to the Solo Flyer mare Beautiful Flyer in third.
Co-trainer Mick Kent Jnr said the quandary is whether to chase further black-type or keep the lightly raced 4yo to mares class.
“She’s a really high-class mare. It’s not often they win their first three starts including black-type,” Kent Jnr said.
“Last spring she was a first-up third behind Tofane at Moonee Valley and that’s good form as she’s a Group 1 type mare.
“She lightened off very quickly so we had to bite the bullet and put her out for a long spell.
“She has come back super. We thought it might have been a bit short for her today but as it worked out with four scratchings the small field bunched up on the corner and she was just a couple of lengths off then straightening she was able to pick them up nicely.
“We have options in Adelaide and with Queensland back on, but we will possibly stick to mare’s grade at present.”
Pinhooked by Rushton Park for $14,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale Mystery Love was re-offered by them at Inglis Premier where she made $75,000 to the bid of Champion Thoroughbreds.
Purchased for $14,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale by Rushton Park, Mystery Love was re-offered by them at the 2017 Inglis Premier where she made $75,000 to the bid of Champion Thoroughbreds with Rushton Park retaining a share.
Bred by Think Big Stud, Mystery Love is the first foal of the Pendragon mare Free Thinking, a half-sister to the dam of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Houtzen from the family of Group I winner Sun Classique.
Free Thinking has a yearling filly and filly foal by Zebedee (GB) and was covered by Impending last spring.
