Treble Trentham delight for WS

Mazzolino crowned a magical day at Trentham on Saturday afternoon for Waikato Stud when she produced a commanding performance to claim top honours in the G3 Desert Gold S.

On the eve of the presenting a top-quality draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, the Matamata nursery celebrated a winning treble on Wellington Cup day.

Sacred Falls fillies Boasting and Purrfect Puss were successful in the opening two events in the stud’s familiar stylised colours before the Stephen Marsh-trained Mazzolino took centre stage to further underline her quality.

The well-related Savabeel filly was caught wide early before settling on the leader’s quarters for jockey Sam Weatherley and they forged clear in the run home to win with authority for Waikato Stud.

“They breed them tough for any conditions and on any day,” stable foreman Rhys Mildon said.

“Stephen trained her sister Atishu and they are quite similar in their racing styles. It was a very confident ride from Sam and it was never in any doubt.”

Weatherley was delighted to reward Mazzolino’s connections with a feature race victory.

“I’ve got a lot of people to thank and during my time out (on suspension) I worked at Waikato Stud and it’s great to repay them,” he said.

“I had a handful of horse all the way and when she hit the front she had the audacity to prick her
ears.”

Mazzolino is a daughter of the No Excuse Needed mare Posy, who was successful on two occasions, and has produced four winners including Atishu who claimed a brace of Listed events from Marsh’s stable.

She later joined Chris Waller’s team and has since added the G2 Matriarch S. and the G3 Bill Ritchie H. to her record.

Posy has an unraced two-year-old filly by Savabeel and made a return visit to the champion stallion last season.

The dam is a sister to Waikato Stud’s three-time Group 1 winner Daffodil, who has produced a trio of black-type performers in Grand De Flora, Grand Bouquet and Snowdrop.

The extended family also includes the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Aegon.