October 3, 2009Winning Run Continues for Miss Marielle
By Tara Madgwick – www.breednet.com.au
Encosta de Lago mare Miss Marielle has hit a rare vein of form at present and carried it to another big race win at Randwick on Saturday when she ploughed through heavy conditions and driving rain to win the Group Three AJC Craven Plate over 2000 metres.
Despite some concerns about her ability to cope with a wet track, Miss Marielle made light of the testing conditions, drawing clear to win easily by a length and three-quarters from the AJC Derby winner Nom du Jeu.
“When she hit a wet track earlier this preparation she wasn’t fit and last preparation when she failed on them she was going no good anyway, so on that basis we were hopeful she’d get through it and she has,” said Joe Pride.
“There’s no doubt she’s a hard mare to train, not in soundness, but in temperament and other issues, so I’m proud to say we’ve done a good job with her.”
Miss Marielle has the overall record of six wins and four placings from 20 starts with earnings in excess of $530,000, the bulk of it accumulated this preparation since she has been switched to Pride.
A $330,000 purchase from the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when offered by Broadwater Farm, Miss Marielle was originally raced by the Perrin brothers before being secured by Belmont Bloodstock for $250,000 on behalf of current owner Tom Kelly of Newhaven Park at the 2009 Inglis Broodmare Sale.
Tom Kelly was at Randwick to welcome his star mare back to scale.
“It’s a fantastic effort, he’s (Joe Pride) a great trainer,” said a delighted Kelly.
“She’s just surprising us all the time. We thought Joe was a great trainer of these older horses and he’s certainly fitted the bill.”
Bred by Contract Racing, who later sold her dam Miss Vandal for $295,000 at the 2005 Inglis Broodmare Sale, Miss Marielle is the second foal of the West Australian Group Three winner, a half-sister by Don’t Say Halo (USA) to another stakes-winner in Krystal Storm.
Miss Vandal has already produced a foal this spring for her current owner Dr Phil Chen, a filly by Darci Brahma pictured at Caramar Park.