Taupo Treble - Win 1 Marvelouz Marvellous

Runner-up in three of four starts, Marvelouz (3 f Almanzor - Miraculous Miss, by Exceed and Excel) recorded deserved success in the $14,000 Easy Insulation Taupo Maiden 1400 metres on 7 February at Taupo.

After finishing a close second in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 28 December at Rotorua, and fighting hard for second after working three wide on pace in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres on 11 January at Matamata, Marvelouz was hot favourite to get the job done.

Ridden by reigning South African Champion Jockey Warren Kennedy, a regular aboard horses for owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, Marvelouz began well before steadying behind the two leaders. She improved topping the rise 500m out, quickened to a winning advantage mid-straight and won easily by one and a quarter lengths.

“She still wanted to have a look around when she got to the front, but got away, overall was really good and was strong through the line,” Kennedy said.

“She was doing it on her own and will only improve with time.”

Under cloudy skies, on footing rated Soft6, Marvelouz ran 1400 metres in 1:25.9, last 600m in 36.5, and paid $1.60 & $1.20 on the TAB tote.

“It was a good win today and it won't be her last, especially as we get up over more ground, and it's always good to get another winner in the Cambridge Stud colours for Brendan & Jo,” said trainer Mark Walker, after notching his 999^th domestic win.

Marvelouz was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $380,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud.

By one of the best credentialed stallions to shuttle to New Zealand in the last decade, standing at Cambridge Stud, Almanzor (Wotton Bassett) was European Champion Three-Year-Old and claimed the same titles in Ireland and France.

Almanzor has already proved both his class and versatility as a sire, with stable-mate Dynastic winning the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed) and Manzoice in the VRC Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m). 

Dam Miraculous Miss (Exceed and Excel) was a two-year-old winner in Australia, stakes' placed, and as a young mare has already produced two horses, Avisto (Tavistock) and Celtic Tiger (O'Reilly), that have won four stakes' races between them, along with five-time Goko (O'Reilly) and dual winner Miracleofmiracles (More Than Ready). 

Miraculous Miss is by Australian Champion Sire and leading broodmare sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), who made a name for himself over two decades of world racing and breeding - just an extraordinary sire whose winners have numbered over 5000, 205 stakes' winners, including 17 individual Group One winners.

Second dam Galway Lass, is by Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) siring stallion Rhythm, and in turn the third dam is by all-conquering sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram). 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “She is an absolutely beautiful filly, very athletic, walks well, and she's a filly we really wanted to buy. 

“We're excited about the progeny of Almanzor. He was a champion racehorse, with a strong pedigree, and we've been impressed with his first yearlings on offer at Karaka.”

Marvelouz was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz