The reason Newhaven Park bought Mariamia was to be mum, but there was always racing to do before she was to visit their stallion Xtravagant.
But they have got a racehorse that might dodge the breeding barn for a second season after winning both her runs this preparation. Her near-record win in the group 2 Expressway Stakes last start has led to group 1 ambitions if she wins the Millie Fox Stakes, also at group 2 level, at Rosehill on Saturday.
Mariamia will look for another group 2 victory in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.Credit:Getty
Twelve months ago, Charles and John Kelly sat down and looked for a Toronado mare because of the “nick” with their stallion, but they were also interested in having a mare to race.
“Xtravagant needs a mare with a bit of speed, and the Toronados seem to be the right mares for him,” Charles Kelly explained. “We had been looking for a while when this mare came up online.
“We looked at her form and she was stakes placed behind Probabeel, beaten a head and head, and we thought there was a bit left there, so we ended up getting her for $335,000.
“We have had a bit of luck with Joe Pride, so we moved her to him and she won her second start for him, and it has gone from there.
“Joe was always telling us that if she went back into work she would get better even at six, and we’re glad we took his advice.”
Pride was mindful in the first preparation that Mariamia needed a black-type victory, and she was sent to Brisbane and Melbourne looking for it after a Sydney benchmark win.
She was a fourth in the Dane Ripper Stakes at group 2 level and fourth again in the listed Civic Stakes before she was placed in the group 3 Bletchingly Stakes behind King Of Sparta and Scallopini to end her campaign.
“Joe just said to us if you give her a good break and send her back to me I think I’ll win three stakes races with her,” Kelly continued.
“The easy choice would have been to go to stud, but she has turned out to be one of our best horses, along with Mo’unga, since English.
“Winning the Expressway was like winning three stakes races for us, and there is more to come.”
Mariamia’s value has boomed beyond $1 million and she is an even-money favourite as she steps up to 1300m in the Millie Fox, which should decide if she goes to a Canterbury Stakes or The Galaxy for a group 1 shot next start.
“After the Expressway, this race was looking us in the face, and she is going so well,” Pride said. “She really likes Rosehill, being unbeaten there in three runs, and she goes into this race very fit.
“She has kept improving and the group 1s are there for her if she runs well on Saturday. She is just a good mare that is getting better.”
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