4 Win Saturday - Mazzucato Marvellous

Returned to the scene of her course/distance win last season, Mazzucato (4 m Tivaci – Yellen, by Pentire) was given a lovely ride to win the $65,000 Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Mazzucato had finished powerfully to win the 3YO 1400 metres on the middle day of Cup Week in November last year at Riccarton, ended her campaign with solid efforts in stakes races on the course, and resumed three starts ago with a comprehensive victory over 1400 metres at Matamata.

Although unable to quicken on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 27 October at Trentham, while travelling south to the Te Akau stables at Riccarton, Mazzucato appeared nicely placed by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson. 

Securing a lovely spot in fourth for jockey Samantha Spratt, Mazzucato loomed in good time turning for home and she raced clear after being asked to extend at the 200m to win by two and a quarter lengths. 

“It was pretty easy, really,” said Spratt, who was called in at late notice for Craig Grylls.

“At the top of the straight we loomed up into it and she was travelling amazingly. There wasn’t a huge amount of speed and I thought we may have got stuck three wide, but it panned out nicely.”

Spratt was called in to ride two runners for Te Akau, also replacing Grylls on Mehzebeen (Almanzor) which won the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2600m), ahead of her riding hot favourite and subsequent winner Savaglee (Savabeel) in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), and understandably had some superstitions creeping in.

“I don’t like to have too many winners before a big one, but hopefully it can continue on,” she said. 

In the race sponsored by NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series, Mazzucato ran 1400 metres in 1:22.5, last 600m in 33.1, on Soft5 footing, and shortened considerably in betting to pay $4.90 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She was really well ridden by Sam Spratt, a late replacement, and she got a dream run into the race,” Walker said.

“Mazzucato is building a really good record at Riccarton, and we’re quite confident of being able to get some black type in stakes races this season.

“She’s actually got the scope to train on and better next season, too, as a five-year-old, so it was very satisfying to see her win like she did today.

“She was a touch underwhelming last start at Trentham, but the track was pretty testing, and she’s bounced back on better track conditions.”

Mazzucato was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $120,000 at the Karaka 2022 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Carlaw Park, and a direct descendant of Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Honor Bound (Honor Grades).

“She was pretty good in both the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) here before ending her campaign last season, and she showed she’d spelled well when winning fresh-up in September at Matamata,” Ellis said.

“It just shows how much these fillies can come on physically between three and four years of age, and it looked like she could win more races on that resuming performance. And now she’s done it.

“She’s out of a Pentire mare that won four races, including three in a row in proper city class races in Melbourne, and the second dam left Alibi (Darci Brahma), a top horse in Singapore.”

There is plenty of quality on the dam side, with third dam Honor Bound (Honor Grades) winning the Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m), impressing from 1200m – 1600m, before leaving eight individual winners as a broodmare.

Mazzucato carries bloodline crosses of top sires: Sadler’s Wells, Northern Dancer, and Danzig.

Mazzucato was strapped by Hollie Smith. 

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