The Peter Moody trained mare Mid Summer Music gave her sire Oamaru Force a Group 1 first in the Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Mid Summer Music (6m Oamaru Force – Samsara Lady by Nassipour) began the current season with G3 victories in the Bletchingly Stakes and Cockram Stakes at Caulfield and was subsequently placed behind Pinker Pinker, Sepoy, Black Caviar and Atlantic Jewel.  But she had been unable to build on those earlier wins until Queensland’s premier sprint.

It was the first Stradbroke won by a mare since Capris was successful in 1936.

Mid Summer Music experienced a chequered path to Group 1 glory.  She was bred by John Ivill, Mark Calwell and Darren Astbury after they bought a nomination to Oamaru Force at a football club charity auction.

Her dam died while foaling the filly and, after being hand-raised, the orphan wasn’t the easiest horse to handle.  “She would kick and bite,” Ivill recalled.  “She has a tough personality and was the boss of everyone in her paddock.

“She kicked off her career with a five length win at Warracknabeal,” Ivill said.  “It was an easy win but Peter was ready to sack her until Linda Meech convinced him to persevere.”

That’s probably the reason why Moody admitted the mare had made a monkey of him again in the Stradbroke.

Mid Summer Music will stay in Queensland for the G1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight before returning home for a spring campaign.

Euroa based Noor Elaine Farm stands Oamaru Force for a $3,300 (inc gst) service fee.  He is a son of Geiger Counter and has sired 34 winners of 87 races at a 52% strike-rate.