Mazu set for Brisbane winter carnival after drought-breaking win in Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes
Jamie Kah gets the best out of Mazu in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes
Mazu revelled in the heavy track conditions to break a winless drought that stretched nearly two years at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The talented Mazu showed again why he is regarded as a superior mudlark when he scored a comfortable win in the Group 3 $250,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).
This was Mazu's first win since his Group 1 Doomben 10,000 success 23 months ago.
Since that career-high win, Mazu has run third in The Everest and been placed twice at Group 1 level before he seemed to lose his way this season with six unplaced runs from as many starts.
But new trainer Joe Pride said the Mazu had excuses in both runs for his stable this autumn and his confidence grew when the track was downgraded to a Heavy 9.
"Mazu had a wet track in the TJ Smith last start but to be fair to him, he was a month between runs,'' Pride said.Mazu races away with G3 TAB Hall Mark Stakes and @jamieleekah07 gets a winning double!@aus_turf_club@PrideRacingpic.twitter.com/vMxftjVzaD
- SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 20, 2024
"He had that little setback when he didn't get to start in The Galaxy before the TJ.
"But today he was that little bit harder and fitter and it was a lovely ride there from Jamie (Kah). It's a good result."
Mazu ($5) scored his eighth win from 26 starts and took his career earnings to nearly $8 million when he settled on speed then forged clear over the rise before holding off Godolphin duo Vilana ($4.40) and Aft Cabin ($6) to win by nearly a length.
Leading Melbourne jockey Jamie Kah came out of a successful protest hearing from the previous race when she rode eventual winner Kintyre in the Frank Packer Plate to back up on Mazu to secure a Group 3 double in successive races.
"After the protest went my way I thought 'it might be my day today'," Kah said.
"With Mazu, he loves it (wet tracks). He's a weird horse because he's got all the ability in the world and then he hit the front like he was going to win by five or six and he pricked his ears and looked at the winning post.
"He does a lot of things wrong, he's a thinker but he's got the ability when he puts his mind to the job."
Pride said there is every reason to keep Mazu in training for the Brisbane winter carnival after his emphatic return to form.
"Queensland would be the plan again,'' Pride said.
"We've got him back on track now but he probably does need wet tracks to do his very best.
A big thank you to my apprentice Leeshelle Small, he's been riding this horse all preparation and she has done a fantastic job with him. He's a difficult horse and she has got him to settle really well so big thanks to her."
Huetor warming up for Queensland winter
- Mitch CohenHuetor tuned up for another Group 1 Queensland winter carnival raid with a slashing return to form at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained galloper hadn't won since his second Group 1 Doomben Cup victory last year before recapturing his best in the heavy conditions.
Huetor motored home closest to the inside to salute in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m).
"There was a bit of tempo there for us and once he is left alone, he can rattle off a good sectional," Paul Snowden said.
"That's what he did, he won with good authority and was strong through the line.
"After Nash rode him the other day he said this horse is flying and has never sat on the horse before in his life and when Kerrin (McEvoy) got hurt, Nash (Rawiller) gets along with him well because he is a nice conservative rider.
"He wants to follow him wherever he goes."
Jockey Nash Rawiller didn't have a runner behind him at the 600m mark but his patience was rewarded when a saloon passage opened up for him closest to the fence.Huetor with the inside run takes out the G3 JRA Plate, and it's a double for @nashhot!@aus_turf_club@SnowdenRacing1@PGsnowdenpic.twitter.com/mmHCY8bnm9
- SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 20, 2024
Huetor ($15) was doing his best work over the final furlong to score by 2½ lengths from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman ($5.50).
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr's Hezashocka ($9) was a further 1¾ lengths back in third.
"He's probably not rock-hard fit yet but he was able to conserve his energy in the run," Rawiller said.
"Like I said to connections before the race, 'if we get to the half-mile and we're going all right, we'll know we're a chance' because the ground might have found him out by then.
"You could see there that he was travelling and he's got a terrific turn of foot, we know that. You don't win Doomben Cups if you don't have that sort of ability."
Snowden confirmed plans to give Huetor a similar preparation in Queensland to the one he's had in recent years.
It will see Huetor feature in the Hollindale Stakes, Doomben Cup and Q22.
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