Previously a runner-up in two black-type races, Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto) went one better on Saturday with a valuable victory in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The New Zealand-bred five-year-old had been narrowly beaten in two recent attempts in stakes company, going down by a half-length when second in the Listed Lord Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day and by neck when second in the Gr.3 JRA Plate (1600m) at Caulfield on February 8.
But this time Marble Arch would not be denied. Jockey Michael Dee sat in a handy position just behind the leaders before presenting Marble Arch three wide early in the run home. Marble Arch showed a quality turn of foot and burst to the front with 200m remaining.
Attrition (Churchill) and Zardozi (Kingman) produced strong finishes to eat into the margin late in the piece, but Marble Arch coasted to a comfortable two-length victory.
“She really deserved that,” said Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD. “She’s been bridesmaid a couple of times in stakes races this prep. To win a Group Two is just huge for her residual value.
“The ownership group are fantastic – Steve and Vicky Thompson, they’re great supporters of ours. To win a Group Two for them is just a huge result. She’s been a great success story. She was a Future Stars winner on a Thursday (in 2023) in her first Australian start.
“She got such a good run today. It was a great ride by Michael. There was good speed there and we ended up in a perfect position with no weight.”
Dee was similarly impressed.
“She peeled out and we had that race shot to bits a long way from home,” he said. “She cruised into it, hit the front without doing any work and really quickened away. She’s in great form at the minute and hopefully that continues.”
The winner of the Blamey Stakes earns a ballot-free entry for the A$2.5 million Gr.1 All Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday, and the Lindsay Park team will seriously consider backing up with Marble Arch.
“If she pulls up well, it won’t be a hard decision with a mare in such good form,” Hayes said. “She was quite impressive today, 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.
“I think she has the right constitution to back up. I think that’s her tenth run for the prep and she’s just been super-consistent.”
A daughter of Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto, Marble Arch was purchased privately by the Lindsay Park team after finishing third at Wanganui in her only start in New Zealand for trainer Wayne Marshment.
Bred by Goodwood Stud, Marble Arch is out of the four-win Sakhee’s Secret mare Jonquil (NZ) and stems from the family of Group One winners Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed).
The now five-year-old mare was initially sold as a weanling for just $3,100 via gavelhouse.com.
Saturday’s victory was Marble Arch’s ninth career win from 22 starts, with a further five placings, and she advanced her career earnings to A$790,646.