Maurice's rapidly-rising sprinter son Mazu took another giant leap towards the top echelons of the Australian sprinting division with a tough victory in the May 14, 1,200-meter TAB Doomben 10,000 (G1), as Arrowfield Stud celebrated a jubilant day in rain-soaked Brisbane.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Mazu, who earlier this week was announced to have secured a spot in the next two renewals of the $15 million The Everest (1200m), continued a rapid rise to prominence with a sixth consecutive victory and first at group 1 level.
Sam Clipperton settled Mazu in fourth behind pacesetter Zoustyle, with James McDonald on Paulele stalking the favorite in fifth, and it was the Triple Crown red silks of Mazu and Godolphin's royal blue that came clear in the straight, engaging in an engrossing duel to the line with Mazu, who demonstrated a toughness that was unrequired in his previous six wins, prevailing by a head. Backmarker Entriviere was best of the rest in third, half a length behind the leading duo.
The first-crop son of Maurice is a third elite-level winner for Arrowfield's Japanese shuttler, and joins dual Derby-winning hero Hitotsu as a group 1 scorer in Australia for the stallion.
"I thought (Mazu) did a marvelous job in the conditions and added another string to his bow with some tenacity to fight through adversity and still win a Group 1," Arrowfield's bloodstock manager Jon Freyer told ANZ Bloodstock News.
Mazu, who in being patiently unleashed by Peter and Paul Snowden to win the Daily Press Brian Crowley Stakes, Toyko City Keiba Fireball Stakes, Irrestable Pools Darby Munro Stakes, and Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (G2) this season, will face the familiar trodden path of Triple Crown's dual Everest winner Redzel, who was trained by the Snowdens to the first of his Everest wins in 2017 having won the Doomben 10,000 in Queensland.
"It's been a very good preparation, let me tell you," said Paul Snowden. "It's a big relief, there was massive speed here and I was watching him in the run and we used him up to get him to a spot and they didn't back off.
"He didn't get a chance to travel as much as he does in his races, he does hit that flat spot, but his ability to absorb the pressure and still be strong at the end is why we've got a slot in The Everest and why we're there."
Mazu becomes the second Group 1 winner out of his dam Chatelaine.
Westbury delight at Price's Derby hero by Tarzino
Westbury Stud and trainer Mick Price celebrated a fairytale first group 1 winner for Tarzino when Jungle Magnate produced a dominant display to the 2,500-meter Thomas Farms South Australian Derby (G1) at Morphettville.
Mark Zahra placed Jungle Magnate towards the rear of the field, spotting the leaders 15 lengths entering the home turn. However, an eye-catching move to circumnavigate the field round the bend saw the gelding hit the front at the top of the straight, and he went on to win by a convincing length and three-quarters at the line to Yaphet with Detonator Jack 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner in third.
On Jungle Magnate, who has won three of his four starts this autumn having run tenth in the Penfolds Victoria Derby in the spring, Price said: "He won his first start over 1400 meters, so I thought we could win a (Caulfield) Guineas with him."
"I had him set for the Guineas and first-up he went too slow (running eighth in a three-year-old handicap at Sandown Hillside) and I thought, 'What am I going to do here'?
"So I had to change mid-prep, which cost him I think. When he ran in the VRC Derby he had enough and was on the way down.
"We had it pegged right this time in, he had a good spell and a good prep and we had a nice circle around this race as his peak point (of the campaign) and I think it was a nice ride by (Mark) Zahra."
Second season sire Tarzino has produced a flurry of winners with his first Classic-aged crop, siring 11 individual winners in Australia and four in New Zealand, led by Jungle Magnate and The St Australian Oaks (G1) runner-up Gypsy Goddess.
Jungle Magnate, owned by T Romeo, G Harvey, and others, is the first-named foal out of Casino Prince mare The Love Of Money, herself a half-sister to Brazilian group 1 winner Questing New and Grafton Cup (Listed, 2350m) winner First Crush.
