Mazu claims Group 1 glory in the Doomben 10,000

By Trent Crebbin - Racing & Sports

The midweek track switch from Doomben to Eagle Farm was a mixed bag for trainers, with many predicting a drier Eagle Farm surface may not suit Mazu, but rain on the day caused the track to be downgraded to a heavy 8.

Mazu, who has relished wet tracks in the Sydney Autumn when winning two listed races and the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m), settled off the speed and took a bit of riding to hit the front but managed to hold off fellow three-year-old Paulele and Kiwi mare Entriviere.

It's been a big week for connections of Mazu, with the announcement that he's been selected by The Star and Arrowfield for the next two editions of The Everest, and co-trainer Paul Snowden was already looking forward to the Spring post-race.
 

"He does hit that flat spot but that ability to absorb the pressure and still be strong at the end - that is why we have got a slot in the Everest and that is why we are going to be there. He's had a very good preparation let me tell you. A lot of work has gone into him. It's really good," Snowden said.

Winning jockey Sam Clipperton notched up his third Group One win and broke a run of fourteen second placings at the highest level since his win in the 2016 All Aged Stakes with the win aboard Mazu, and he was full of praise post-race.

"He's just a star, this horse. He knows how to win and we've got a great rapport with each other. Even when I was concerned, he was always going to pick up and I just had to have faith in the horse and in the end I got to the front too early and he thinks his job is done," Clipperton said.

With an Everest deal locked away, Mazu is now likely to spell before the Spring, and Saturday's win has seen his price come in for the $15 million sprint, now second favourite at $7 with the TAB behind last year's winner Nature Strip at $4.