The Joseph Pride-trained pair of Mazu ($4.40) and Coal Crusher ($9.50) have fought out the finish in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with the former getting the upper hand in the concluding stages to secure his ninth career win.
The son of Maurice appeared set to peak fourth-up into the campaign after tackling the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) last time out, where the six-year-old was overhauled by General Salute.
Mazu was getting a big swing in the weights against some key rivals, including the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Ostraka () who looked to dictate throughout under Jason Collett.
Coal Crusher sat to his outside the entire journey and looked to be travelling well throughout, while Mazu and Givemethebeatboys () were poised to strike settling behind the leading pair.
Jamie Melham was quick to put the race to bed as she loomed to the front at the furlong pole, and although the stable companion was in the fight, Mazu got the better of Coal Crusher in the shadows of the post.
Joe Pride was on track and couldn’t have been happier with the performance as he spoke post-race.
“It was a funny run race in the end,” said Pride.
“He was coming up underneath them. Ostraka didn’t seem to want to cross and that kept Coal Crusher in an awkward position. He ran bravely as well. It was a good run and Dragonstone had things against him coming from back in the field.
“Jamie (Melham) seems to have a real affinity with this horse and we’ll see if we can get her on for something in Queensland.
“There isn’t so much a plan (in Brisbane) but he’s a weight-for-age winner, he’s a Doomben 10,000 winner. The sprinters probably aren’t at that elite level this year so we’ll probably freshen him up and give him a couple of targets in Brisbane.”
Jamie Melham picked up her first win of the carnival as she spoke to media post-race.
“I love this horse,” said Melham.
“He’s a horse that you can’t tell what to do, you’ve got to ask him. It is up to him if he wants to produce his best on the day and everything was perfect in the run for him, I thought, because he likes being covered up and having that last crack at them.
“If he gets to the front too far (soon) sometimes he overthinks it. It was perfect for him and you have to ask him nicely. If he wants to produce, he’ll produce.
“Today he decided to bring his best.”
Mazu is currently a $15 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 17.
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