Lightly raced six-year-old Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto) made it back-to back victories as she ran her rivals off their feet to capture the AR Painters Handicap (1400m) at Otaki on Saturday.
The late blooming daughter of Per Incanto had won three of her eight starts to date since making her debut in July last year, including a last-start front-running performance at Hawera a fortnight ago in the hands of Kate Hercock, who was aboard again on Saturday.
Hercock took the Matt Dixon-prepared mare straight to the front and she dictated proceedings at a muddling speed before being joined on her outer by McKhan with 800m to run.
Marotiri Miss quickly shook off those attentions as she broke clear early in the run home, comfortably holding a three-length advantage at the post ahead of a gallant Duncan Creek, who chased her hard in the closing stages.
Dixon was feeling especially satisfied with his charge who has proved a handful from the day she entered his stable.
“She was broken in as a late two-year-old and time has been her friend as she has battled shin soreness for quite some time,” Dixon said.
“We seem to have overcome that, but she is a real tough individual who can take a fair bit of looking after at home.
“Now that she has matured a little more, she has come right with her manners, as early on you wouldn’t have thought she would get beyond 1000m as she just wanted to go too hard and run through the bridle.
“Her last two wins have been over 1400m, and she has settled well in front and got the trip nicely so I think she might even get out to a mile the way she is racing.”
Dixon has a number of options for his charge with the thought she might be suited to a race like the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on 13 November.
“The way she is going she could be a candidate to get some black type on her record,” he said.
“I have been thinking about a race like the Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton on the middle day of the carnival, but we will make that decision a little further down the track.
“She won’t cope with a really rock-hard track so that would be a factor in how we go forward with her from here.”
Raced by her breeders Beven Parlato and his wife Christine, Marotiri Molly is out of the stakes placed mare Marotiri Miss who won five races and finished runner-up in the 2014 Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton.
She has now won four of her nine starts, all with Hercock in the saddle and just under $92,000 in prizemoney.