4 Win Saturday - Malmaison Magic

On a four-win Saturday across two venues north and south, Malmaison was the first the strike for the tangerine team!

Making it three wins from his last four starts, Malmaison (4 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose, by Bernardini) obliged in the $40,000 Commodore Hotel Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. 

After recording back-to-back wins with a strong performance in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 23 August at Awapuni (poly-track), Malmaison then headed south to the Te Akau stables at Riccarton, and stretched out well for fourth in the Rating 75 1200 metres when having his first start there on 28 September.

Continuing his very positive association with jockey Wiremu Pinn, Malmaison received a nice trip behind the two leaders and with a sustained finished was able to capitalise on a tiring race favourite Inflamed over the concluding stages.

Although not overly enamoured on Heavy9 footing, after 40mls rain in the preceding 24-hours, Malmaison had nevertheless placed on Heavy8 and called upon all his strengths as a very consistent performer.

Having now recorded three wins and four seconds from nine starts, Malmaison scored by a long neck, ran 1200 metres in 1:14.4, and paid $3.60 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

From the course, Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, said: “It was a really good win because we were a little bit unsure of him handling the track conditions. Being a son of Darci Brahma, they normally need better ground, but he managed the conditions well.

“He’s quite a big horse, just starting to fill out and develop, and he’s only going to get better with time. I think he’ll actually be a much better five and six-year-old, so there’s plenty ahead for him.

“He’s got plenty of scope about him and the bloodlines to keep improving with time, too.

“It’s always a big thrill to train winners by Darci Brahma and he still holds a special place in our hearts. He meant so much to the stable after Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling and we trained him to win five Group Ones before he became a Champion at stud.”

Owned by the Te Akau In Full Bloom Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Malmaison breezed up in the top 20 times (10.25) when galloping at Te Rapa, and subsequently purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $150,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. 

Ellis has a wonderful record buying horses at Ready to Run Sales, including Group One winners Gingernuts (Iffraaj), Hall Of Fame (Savabeel), and Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), and this year, the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale is held on 20 & 21 November at Karaka. 

Multiple Champion Stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill) has sired over 1900 winners: 96 stakes' winners, including 16 Group One's, the likes of Super Easy, Catalyst, Gust Of Wind, Nashville, Kahma Lass, Recite, Risque, Irish Fling, and many other gifted and hardy thoroughbreds.

Darci Brahma himself won the 2000 Guineas among five Group One victories which included the T. J. Smith Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane, as a two-year-old, and the Telegraph Handicap (1200m).  

He went on to be named Champion Two Year Old, Champion Three Year Old, and Champion Sprinter/Miler as a four year old.

Dam-sire Bernardini (A. P. Indy) is doing a good job at stud and became the youngest stallion ever to reach the mark of 50 stakes winners as a broodmare sire in May 2021.

Malmaison has an international pedigree on his dam-side, with third dam Tamnia (Green Desert) a stakes winner and Group One placed in Europe, before leaving 11 foals of which 10 raced, and the family of dual Group Two winner and multiple stakes winner Son Cesio (Zafeen). 

At the time of purchase Ellis said: “We bought Darci Brahma as a yearling colt at Karaka. Mark (Walker) did a sensational job training him to win five Group Ones, and he’s been a tremendous asset to the stallion ranks in New Zealand.

“We loved the horse (Malmaison) and thought he was particularly good value early in the sale.

“He’s an athletic three-year-old type, with a lovely demeanour, good bone, plenty of substance, and well balanced.”

Malmaison carries a Danzig (Green Desert) cross as the sire of Danehill in his sire line and through the dam line of Altai Rose. 

Altai Rose was bred by Bob Emery, who bred and raced dual Group One winner Champagne (Zabeel), winner of the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes 2000m and Group 1 Australia Stakes 2000m, and sold Altai Rose to Dr. KC Tan as a yearling at Karaka. 

Showing the consistency to keep improving as he matures, Malmaison is the third winner out of Altai Rose including talented Group Three winner So Naive (U S Navy Flag). 

Malmaison was strapped by Hollie Smith. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz