Marble Arch has claimed her first Group success by taking out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a peach of a ride from Michael Dee.
The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained mare was kept safe in betting with Dabble and jumped as an equal third-favourite at +450.
After jumping well from barrier six, the daughter of Per Incanto landed behind the speed in fourth, settling behind Steparty (+380) and Poison Chalice (+3300), who led the field up in the 1600m contest.
As the field swung around the final corner and the sprint went on, there was no other horse that punters wanted to be on outside of the eventual winner, as Marble Arch took over with 300m under a stranglehold before Dee asked for the ultimate effort.
Once Dee released the brakes on the mare, she let down with a strong turn of foot to sprint clear of the tiring leaders with 200m to go.
Zardozi (+450) and Attrition (+1100) ran on strongly from the back of the field, but it was all honours to the winner, as Marble Arch recorded a dominant two-length win.
Ben Hayes represented the winning stable in the post-race interview.
“She got a great run today, great ride by Michael, there was good speed there and we ended up in the absolute perfect position with no weight and she really deserved that, she’s been bridesmaid a couple of times in stakes races this prep and to win a Group 2 is just huge for her and her residual value going forward,” Hayes said.
“The ownership group are fantastic, Steve and Vicky, it’s her colours, they’re great supporters of ours and to win a Group 2 like that for them is just a huge result and she’s been a great success story.
“She was a Future Stars winner and she was purchased by Dom who’s our racing manager and it’s just worked out perfect and we’ve got a great ownership group so we’re absolutely thrilled.
“If she pulls up well it won’t be a hard decision (to go to the All Star Mile next), she’s a mare in form.
“She won that quite well and she was impressive so we’ll definitely be considering it, we’ve just got to see how she pulls up but if she pulls up well I think it’ll be an easy vote to run.”
Michael Dee brought up his first winner of the day at Flemington, and he spoke after the win.
“We had the perfect run just in behind the speed and she peeled out and we had that race shot to bits a long way from home, she cruised into it, hit the front without doing any work and really quickened away,” Dee said.
“She’s in great form at the minute and hopefully that continues.
“I rode her early in the prep and that felt a long time ago so she has been up a long while and when these mares are racing so well you’ve got to keep going with them.”
Marble Arch is an +1700 chance with bookmakers in the Group 1 All Star Mile.
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