Marotiri Miss masters class rise at Awapuni

Marotiri Miss (NZ) mastered a major rise in class to score a welcome victory in the Office Products Depot Hcp (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

The Richard French trained mare will now be set for the G3 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 3.  Her only other victory had been an Awapuni maiden on debut in May 2012.

The Awapuni win was consolation for her controversial loss at Trentham in May.  On that occasion, rider Johnathon Parkes copped a five-week suspension after he pleaded guilty to failing to ride her out to the line when beaten a nose.

“After Trentham we were all heartbroken,” French said.  “Johnathon tried, but he’s only human and made a mistake and it was costly.

“I rate her as one of the best, if not the best, horse I’ve trained.  We might look at the Winter Cup and that was the idea of coming here and taking on the big boys.”

Marotiri Miss (5m Al Akbar – Rainbeau by Oregon) was well-rated in front by Kelly Myers to defeat Go Danny by three-quarters of a length.  “We had the lightest weight in the race and got a soft lead and were able to skip away,” Myers said.  “They’ve got some pretty big plans for her and she looks like she’s up to it.”

The Foxton based mare has a pedigree bereft of black-type since 1979 Melbourne Cup winner Hyperno (Rangong).  She is the first foal of an unraced mare who wasn’t served for three seasons before the Parlato family sent her to Fully Fledged last year.

Her sire Al Akbar (Success Express) was a G1 winner of the Levin Bayer Classic and the G2 Canterbury Stakes in Sydney.  He sired 17 stakes winners headed by G1 2002 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Hustler.

Al Akbar, who stood at Grangewilliam Stud in Wanganui, died from colic aged 17 in July 2007.