WELL BRED MARMELLOS DELIVERS AT FIFTH START

Lightly raced mare Marmellos (4 m Ocean Park – Caramellos, by Pins) delivered a front-running victory in the $10,000 Matamata Veterinary Services Maiden 1400 metres on 23 December at Matamata.

After leading up and finishing second on the course over 1400 metres in September, Marmellos had her campaign halted through a paddock sustained leg injury and returned to the scene for victory at her fifth start for owners Wayne Boyd, Wally Campbell, Maurice & Mary-Jane Caro, Adrian Casey, Kathryn Donoghue, and Ballymore Stables.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard felt Marmellos may need the run against horses with recent race day form, but also credited the mare with having worked well and matured further in her time off.

Early competition for the lead meant Marmellos worked to assume control at the 900m, but was able to button off for a soft sectional, and she found a good kick for stable apprentice Eilish McCall (a3) and held strongly to the line.

“It was a good ride from Eilish (McCall),” said co-trainer Pam Gerard. “She got to the front while still rating her, knew where she wanted to be and kept going. It was a confident ride and she is becoming more balanced and looking better in a finish.”

On footing upgraded to Dead4, Marmellos ran the 1400 metres in 1:24.4 and delivered a healthy Christmas bonus: $18.40 & $2.90 on the NZ TAB.

“She kicked through the fence soon after running second here in September and was off while her leg healed,” Gerard said.

“She’d done plenty of work but I still thought she could have needed the run, so that’s why we claimed off her and used Eilish (McCall).

“She’s not a bad mare and always had ability and now she wants to do it herself. She’s a had a few niggles and injuries along the way, too.

“We’ve got a really good group of owners in the mare, including Wayne Boyd, who has been a long time owner with Ballymore, very patient, and great to win for them with a mare from a very good family.

Selected by Paul Moroney, Marmellos was purchased for $120,000 at the Karaka 2018 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Koru Thoroughbreds.

Her sire, Ocean Park (Thorn Park), was trained at Matamata. He won five Group 1 races, including the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m), and Marmellos became his 400th winner for the young and proven Waikato Stud stallion. Ocean Park has sired 21 stakes winners, including three at Group 1 level.

The dam side of her family is immensely talented. Her second dam, Bali Sugar (by Christmas Tree), left Champion Sprinter Butterscotch (Gold Brose) and the terrific race mare Viennetta (Pins), who in turn has left Golden Archer (Rock of Gibraltar), now a stallion in Australia.

At the time of purchase, co-trainer Mike Moroney said: “She is a great walking filly, with strength, and really took our eye. It’s a family that has produced some very good fillies, and she has plenty of residual value as a broodmare too.”

Marmellos was strapped by Harri Singh.