Paul Messara’s family connection at Arrowfield Stud hasn’t stopped him training feature winners by stallions stationed at Vinery.

On Saturday, Messara welcomed back Group 1 winning Testa Rossa mare Ortensia to his Scone stables.  And on Tuesday, his More Than Ready sprinter Mahisara closed the Melbourne Cup card with a convincing victory in the Headquarters Tavern Plate (1400m).

Mahisara (4h More Than Ready – Darsini by Danehill) broke through at black-type level in the LR Centenary Classic at Eagle Farm in June 2011.  Messara sent the colt to Melbourne last year only to see him beaten a short-head in the LR Hilton Hotels Stakes on the last day of the Cup carnival.

“Mahisara is a big, strong horse and can be handful for his strapper Leah Gavranich,” Messara said.  “He is a lovely looking animal and he certainly attracts attention with his pre-race antics.”

Vinery champion More Than Ready sired him from Darsini, a three-quarter sister to G2 MVRC Stocks Stakes winner Astrodame (Flying Spur).  It’s another example of the More Than Ready – Danehill cross that’s produced Group 1 winners the calibre of Sebring, More Joyous, Perfectly Ready, Benicio, Elite Falls etc.

His dam Darsini is owned by the Kia-Ora 2009 Syndicate and she foaled another More Than Ready colt in September.

Mahisara is one of 107 stakes winners world-wide by More Than Ready.  Overall, there have been 981 individual winners at a 72% strike-rate and Vinery stands him for a $121,000 (inc gst) service fee.

– Karl Patterson