SHE CAME SHE CONQUERED - FLEETWOOD MACA WINS AT ELLERSLIE

From a Group 1 winner that has already left a Group 1 winner, Fleetwood Maca (3 f Rock ‘n’ Pop – Macavelli Miss, by Vettori) scored an exciting and emotional win in the $30,000 Dunstan Feeds Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November) at Ellerslie.

After trialling well for second in September at Te Teko, Fleetwood Maca produced a notable debut performance for fifth to 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) favourite Tinker McPhee (Nostradamus) in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 10 October at Matamata, and benefitted from a lovely ride by apprentice jockey Taiki Yanagida.

Negating an awkward barrier (8) to situate three wide with cover in seventh, Yanagida presented Fleetwood Maca four wide on straightening and she was unimpeded when surging between runners to get up in the shadows of the post in a six-way finish.

On Good3 footing, Fleetwood Maca (pictured in mauve) ran the 1400 metres in 1:23.2.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard said: “She showed us ability as a two-year-old and really grew and changed shape when we turned her out.

“She took longer to come up than I thought she would, a bit slow in the coat, but her first-up run was very good in good company. She coped well with her outing to Ellerslie, and she’s got the job done in beating a smart field today.

“She gives the impression of coping with stepping up in distance, as well, so exciting for everyone involved.”

Owned and bred by Valachi Downs general manager Gareth Downey, Mel Gamble, their children Brynya, Elliot, and Owen, and family friend Liz Mellick, Fleetwood Maca kept a family tradition alive when returning $59.80 & $11.40, following in the footsteps of Macavelli Miss paying $121.80 & $35.30 when she won the 2006 Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1 1600m) at Trentham.

Macavelli Miss had previously left talented entire Mac de Lago (Encosta de Lago) to win the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Greyville Racecourse, Durban, South Africa. Off the track, she has now left five individual winners of 21 races.

On behalf of the owners, Mel Gamble said: “Racing is my passion and this is a first for me. So, it’s a very emotional moment for us and Liz (Mellick), a friend in Melbourne, who helped us out during a very tough time for our family.

“It’s not something we expected, but it’s fantastic. We’ve watched this filly grow up in our paddock and we decided she had something special. Thank you so much to Pam for everything she’s done and for treating her as an individual.”

Presenting in the Winner’s Circle, Auckland Racing Club director Russell Warwick thanked Dave Smith from Dunstan Feeds for their ongoing and huge sponsorship support, and congratulated the “hard-working” Gareth Downey.

“Fantastic to see Gareth (Downey) and his family here celebrating the win with a filly out of mare that his family bought as a yearling,” Warwick said.

“Pam Gerard and Mike (Moroney), Mike will have his focus on the other side of the Tasman today. But, Pam does a sterling job at the Ballymore Stables in New Zealand, and invariably has horses race well here at Ellerslie.”

Fleetwood Maca was strapped by Rathore Sher Singh.