Machine Gun Gracie has joined a cavalcade of stars after putting the cleaners through a top-class classic field in Saturday’s G3 WA Oaks (2400m) at Ascot.

The daughter of red-hot sire Maschino went out an odds-on favourite following a hollow victory the LR Natasha Stakes (2200m) last month and she reprised that win with another three-length margin back to the Playing God fillies Funchal and Noahquintilly.

Machine Gun Gracie (3f Maschino – Gracie May by Written Tycoon) is the 10th horse to complete the double since the Natasha was first run in 2003.  She can also add her name to the classic roll-call of fillies to annex the WA Oaks – WA Derby double at Ascot on April 19.  TABtouch has firmed her into a short-priced $2.35 favourite to beat the boys in a fortnight.

Trainer Justine Erkelens also completed a Natasha – WA Oaks double of her own for the second time in as many years following Own The Queen (Awesome Rock). “ I could get Own The Queen to stay but I knew it wasn’t her forte,” Erkelens said.  “This filly is a different horse and she’s bred to stay.”

Machine Gun Gracie was bred by Carabooda-based Joe Kelly and sold for $45,000 through Scenic Lodge (as agent) at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions.  She’s managed by Greg Browne for a large syndicate that includes his partner Kelly Curtis and they’ve banked over $330,000 topped by Westspeed Bonuses of $57,000.  There’s another $400,000 in the WA Derby prizemoney pool plus a Group 2 residual towards her value at stud.

Former Scenic Lodge manager Kristy Reynolds is a degree removed but has followed Machine Gun Gracie closely as she has emerged as a filly with future.  Kristy helped educate Machine Gun Gracie during her yearling prep for the Magic Millions and then purchased her dam a year later.

“I bought Gracie May from the Kellys and put her to Universal Ruler at Scenic Lodge,” Reynolds said.  “Her yearling is a colt and I sold him to Crystal Burns in Kalgoorlie through the Inglis Online Sale in February.  She wasn’t served last season but will definitely be going back to Maschino this year.”

Reynolds is based at the family-run Bevandale Park in Chittering and, apart from her thoroughbred interests, she’s coming off an award-winning presentation at the WA Quarter Horse Championships at Brigadoon.

A booking into Maschino (Encosta de Lago) in 2025 would be subject to a rise if Machine Gun Gracie wins the WA Derby or if his star sprinter Jokers Grin claims the G3 Roma Cup (1200m) next Saturday and/or the $5 million Kia Quokka (1200m) on April 26.

It would continue the amazing run being enjoyed by the Alwyn Park stallion since the summer carnival.  Alwyn Park-bred mare Bonjoy kicked off a feature-race Ascot hat-trick in the LR Starstruck Classic (1600m) and Smooth Chino completed an unbeaten hat-trick in the RL Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra.

Maschino signed off March with a winning Ascot treble courtesy of Macciateau, Trio and Jokers Grin who blitzed the Rock Magic Stakes (1000m) first-up for Bernie Miller and Pat Carberry.  He also completed a running double on WA Oaks Day with black-type mare Fine Touch for her owner-breeder Frank Fiore.